Hello!  I’m a Song Sparrow & do I have a story for you!

Hi!  I couldn’t allow the day to pass without sharing about a “new feathered friend” that adorned our yard.  She had been there for several weeks and I never heard her sing.  You know why?   Because even though I puttered around in our little flower garden almost daily, I never quieted myself long enough to “hear her” wee voice.

This particular day I was weary.  I mean “really tired” both emotionally and physically.  My body and soul announced….”Today is going to be your day of REST.”

My husband prepared a big delight, an “iced latte.”  And then, I gave myself permission (do you need to do that too, in your life?) to sit under the umbrella and just rest. 

And if you’re taking notes, I remained in that position for at least two (2) hours.  So, if you feel you need to do that, just call or write, and I’ll grant that request to encourage you to rest your mind, soul, heart and body!!

It doesn’t cost much at all, but it does require a “personal and committed decision” to stop whatever you’re doing, or feel you need to do, and SIT STILL, BE STILL, THINK STILL.

Psalm 46:10 “Be still, and know that I am God;”

This verse encourages stillness!

Have you ever taken the time to rehearse this verse slowly?  Let me bring you along to this “restful moment.”  Say aloud….

That simple exercise brings calmness and gives full release of anxiety.  You and I are not really in charge of life…………GOD IS!   In His love and grace, He issues not only our daily bread, but our daily BREATH!

Well, back to the patio and the iced latte.  If you were here, I’d share one with you.  We had a very busy and delightful week of having friends stay in our home.  I love that!  However, after the adrenaline calms down from enthusiasm of enjoying people and making meals; I sensed the real need to just go slow and relax.

We have a little fountain that we brought back to Canada when we moved from Arizona.  I had turned on this quiet “entertainment” media and just sat on the patio chair.

It took me about fifteen minutes or so to begin to wind down.  Then, it happened. A tiny Song Sparrow appeared on the top of the fountain, which was only 1 yard (meter)away from me.  I looked up at her, and she looked down at me.  Right after our eyes met, she began her “musical repertoire” of her species.

I felt as though I was in attendance of a “feathered symphony.”  This little female sang off and on for TWO HOURS.  She’d drink and bathe from the water in the fountain several times, but she continued to hover all around me with her song.

A very heart-felt emotion just came over me. My eyes were filled with tears and I felt as though my heart and soul were leaping for joy.  It “dawned” on me that this delicate bird was sent by my Savior to serenade me with her joyful song.   God gifted Song Sparrows with a melodic song, and she was exercising her giftedness from Him.  And I was the recipient of this two-hour solo symphony.

Proverbs 3:5 & 6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not to your own understanding; but in ALL YOUR WAYS, ACKNOWLEDGE HIM, and He will DIRECT YOUR PATH.”

Yes, He directs our individual path.  That includes our “starts” and “stops.”  And on this afternoon, my steps were stopped…………….so I could “taste and see that the Lord is good.”  Psalm 34:8 

Quietly, I wondered to myself, why hadn’t I ever heard her or seen her before??

Reason:  I hadn’t quieted myself long enough to see and hear her. 

Couldn’t that be why we don’t hear and see God more in our daily living?  We often adopt the “activity addiction” of the world:  talking too much, listening less, checking our cell phones for texts that we simply can’t miss, over-concerned about what people may be thinking about us.  Believe me, if we knew the real truth, people may seldom be thinking about us.   And that’s an entire other topic.

A long time ago, I remember lying on our sofa for a “mini 15-minute vacation from activity” and I heard a man share from his sermon the following:

“If you’re too busy to pray…..you’re too busy.” 

I remember leaping up off the sofa and giving his words real consideration.  Praying is talking with our Lord Jesus.  Our words and thoughts of Him needn’t be long or complicated; but it’s sharing with Him (who knows us completely and loves us passionately) our life down here.  

Like taking a walk with a friend; it much more fun chatting and commenting about all we see and feel.  If we’ve invited the Lord Jesus to come into our life, and live His life in us and through us; He delights to hear from us….in our thoughts, words or deeds.

Why not take just 30 minutes and move yourself outside to a quiet place and just “be still & listen” to the Creator of this world, the world in which you reside and be CONTENT.

Note: two weeks later, she and her mate moved to another location

I’d call that…..DIVINE TIMING

GOD IS MORE INTERESTED IN WHAT WE ARE

BECOMING…………….

THAN WHAT WE’LL EVER DO FOR HIM

After people spend time with each of us, listening to us, watching us, observing our behavior, attitudes, and responses, WHAT DO THEY THINK OF HIM ? Our lives speak volumes, don’t they! We are either a “construction site” or a “demolition zone.”

2 Corinthians 5:20 “We are ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal through us.”

COMPASS THOUGHTS ON…….PURPOSEFUL LIVING

God has “gifted” every one of His kids here on earth, for heavenly purposes!  Have you found your gift (an area of ability that God has given you)?  If so, is it being employed somewhere?   I don’t mean just for a church service, but anywhere and everywhere?  In your neighborhood, at the grocery, post office, your job, your laundry room, kitchen or wherever you happen to be? 

Our abilities or giftedness from our Creator God is designed to “bring glory to God,” or the term I love to use, “making God look good.”  How has He been looking lately in our actions, attitudes and speech?   

A wonderful truth is that if we have given our life over to Jesus Christ, He lives within each of us!   That means we carry Him everywhere we are and in whatever we’re doing.

The concept of “God living within us” is a core belief & truth in Christianity suggesting that believers are not simply connected to God, but that God’s presence and Spirit dwell within them, enabling them to live a life of love and PURPOSE.

We believers today need to REALIZE this fact about ourselves.  Christ isn’t outside of us as some kind of Helper in our time of need; He actually LIVES IN US and is WITH US ALL THE TIME.

Romans 8:10 “But if Christ is IN YOU, though the body is dead because of sin, the spirit is life because of righteousness.”

Galatians 1:15-16 “But when it pleased God, who set me apart from my mother’s womb and called by His grace, to reveal His Son in me.” 

Galatians 2:20 “I am crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives IN ME; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live in faith, the faith of the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself up for me.”

This clearly shows us that Christ lives in His believers.  Because He lives in us, the Christian life is not a matter of trying to behave like Christ, but of allowing Him to live in and through us. 

Colossians 1:27 “To whom God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which his Christ IN YOU, the hope of glory.”

Matthew 1:23 “Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall call his name Immanuel (which means, God with us). 

There are many other Scriptures that point to this truth of the living God residing in His children.

Isn’t that THRILLING!!  We often look at verses without pondering their meaning and relevance in the shoe-leather of our living.   Yes, whatever we’re doing, He’s within, sharing and living our His life in us.

Have you consumed garlic lately?  If you have, you’ve not needed to share that with your friend, spouse or co-workers.  Believe me, it would be obvious to them if they were in close proximity of you.  Why?  Because the essence and aroma of garlic has so penetrated you…. that it’s presence within you just “oozes out of you!” 

HAD YOU THOUGHT THAT JESUS CHRIST YEARNS TO “OOZE OUT OF YOU AND I?”

We carry the presence of the Savior within us at all times…wherever we go and whatever we’re doing.  

We don’t need to announce that we’ve consumed garlic.  People will know because it “oozes from our pores…our very being.”     He wants to ooze from the pores of our lives…. influencing and affecting others in a winsome, truthful and loving way.  

When we demonstrate LOVE in the name of Jesus, we are showing Jesus to the world in front of us.   When we love like Jesus…. they need to see and feel the difference that Jesus Christ makes in our lives.

A verse that perhaps many of us have memorized is:  Prov 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not to your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths.“

There’s so much in that verse.  But it’s about keeping our eyes on Him in whatever we’re doing or wherever we are, looking for His guidance.  It’s also pondering or thinking about what God might be teaching us in our life right now, and making course adjustments in our behavior or attitudes.

Just recently, God convicted me of an attitude within me that wasn’t right!  Ouch, that hurt.  But it was a “positive hurt.”   We sometimes squirm when we’re corrected, and we long for a Divine band-aid to cover over it; but some changes in our life need to be exposed to His Divine “air of truth” which brings change and healing.

We’re to live “in the present,” but there can be blessings in looking back over the rear-view mirror of our lives to see what God has done in and through our lives.  Remembering the specific areas of how God has provided in the past cultivates and encourages us for trusting Him in the future.

Why not pause for awhile and take a short journey back in time in our lives, and recall areas where God has worked and made Himself known to us!

It would be valuable to cultivate more stillness and silence in our lives….so we can know His presence and hear His voice!  He will not shout over our own agendas…. but waits on us until we’re ready to “listen” (with the intention of obeying Him).

ARE YOU LIVING OUT GOD’S PLANS AND PURPOSES IN YOUR LIFE?

A good question to ask God:  What is the purpose or sum of my life?

This type of question helps to make us STOP and THINK:  what was God’s purpose in creating/designing you and me?

If this question has stimulated your thinking, as it has mine, I’d love to hear from you!!!  If you’ve signed in to my blog, it will share my email address.

The Gospel According to You

Men are not reading the Bible today

They’re dashing about in their own reckless way.

Most of them don’t care what God has to say,

But brother, they’re reading you.

What is the gospel according to you?

Can people see that to Christ you are true?

Your neighbor reads your actions and deeds,

What can he read in you?

That last sentence in the poem is a searching question, isn’t it?  My husband doesn’t have a local library card; but he will often make the ‘following statement’ after he asks me a question or wants my opinion on a topic.   If I pause to think before speaking, he will blurt out: 

“I know what you’re thinking – because I can read you like a book!”

Well, that can unnerve a person can’t it!  I ofttimes attempt to conceal my thoughts, and then he proceeds to show his library card indicating that he has ‘read me before’ on the subject at hand.

I’m attempting to graduate to a higher level as a concealed informant, but sometimes the transparency of my thoughts or attitudes seems to leak out in my facial expression.  I doubt if most of us realize how “readable we actually are.” 

Our facial expressions can convey what the inner library is thinking or feeling, can’t they.  I’m not saying that’s necessarily wrong, but our facial expression can be a window into our inner attitudes, our feelings, our fears, our joy and even our questioning.

A long time ago, someone shared with me that when I’m trying to really understand a concept or comment that a person has directed my way, that I smile and sort of clinch my eyes shut.  I had no idea of what they were saying until I went home and thought about their comment.  I positioned my face in front of the mirror and tried to mimic my thoughts as though someone just made a statement or asked a question that required “deep thought.”  Sure enough, my lips tightened as if to smile and my eyes moved into “clinch position.” 

Talk about “surprised.”  I had no idea that my face displayed a large question mark.  It was time to have an “about-face.”   The expression didn’t foster the best of displays, as I realized it could make the person communicating with me feel as though I didn’t care.  When, in fact, I did care and was in “deep thought – that’s all.” 

The look on my face left “an impression” and influenced whether or not the other person would continue talking to me.  So, if you’re ever speaking eye-to-eye with me, and I have that “look,” you have my permission to say something.  Okay!

None of us do everything right.  I’d love to introduce the idea of “redoes.”  We all need the grace of a “redo,” don’t you think.

We’re all pretty “normal!”  Seldom does the activity of our life require an article in the newspaper or an affirmation from the Royal Family or accolades from top officials.   Most of our lives are around 1 or 2 on the Richter scale of importance.   So, I’d call that “oatmeal living.”

But our appearance in life does matter to our Creator!  Because if we belong to the Lord Jesus Christ, our lives matter more than perhaps we realize.   Regardless of whatever your country’s leadership is, every country has an AMBASSADOR.   An ambassador’s purpose is to represent their country, build relationships with other country and promote their own country’s interests.

In a word, as followers of Jesus Christ, we are here on earth, regardless of your current home address, to represent His Kingdom purpose and plan; and, to build relationships with other people, influencing them towards God’s wonderful kingdom and His personal interest in “their lives.” 

2 Corinthians 5:20  “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us.  We implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.”   

So, we represent Him wherever we are and whatever we’re doing.  That means that His presence is within us!  Stop and think about that truth for a moment or two.  That is simply “astounding” to comprehend that in the sneakers of our walk…….. 

WE CARRY THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD WHEREVER WE ARE & WHATEVER WE’RE DOING!

You know, it’s like when we consume garlic, we don’t need to announce its presence…..because, it just OOZES OUT OF US.   That’s what His presence in us longs to do in our lives!  Talk about influence and impact!  What an astonishing ambition and should be our life goal….to REPRESENT OUR LORD AND SAVIOR!!!

God isn’t interested in perfection…. just faithfulness in the little things, what to us may mean mundane and seemingly insignificant in the area of life.  But we’re called to allow Jesus to “live out His plan and purpose” in our life. 

Of course, our walk is through joys and sadness, frustration and anger, disappointments and accomplishments, most of which we’ll never comprehend their purpose.  But HE KNOWS US intimately and is orchestrating the story of our life, one moment at a time, one day at a time, one week at a time, one month at a time, one year at a time and………….one experience at a time.

Proverbs 20:27 “The spirit of a man is the lamp of the Lord, searching all the inner depths of his heart.”

Jeremiah Study Bible commentary: “The proverbs asserts that every individual lives because of God and His inscrutable knowledge of His creation.”

May I camp on the meaning of inscrutable! 

Impossible to understand, interpret, unreadable, impenetrable, mysterious, impossible to interpret, emotionless, unexplainable, beyond comprehension, baffling, fathomless, confusing, inexplicable, unintelligible

After reading just some of the meanings of the word inscrutable, my mind and heart seemed to fall off the chart.  God knows all about each of us, not just the hairs on our head, but all that makes you…. you, and me….me.   That knowledge itself ought to make us fall on our knees with gratitude.   But of course, it’s true…. because HE DESIGNED YOU!  

Psalm 139:1 “You have searched me, Lord, and You know me.”

Psalm 139:13 “For You created my inmost being, you knit me together in my mother’s womb.”

And through all of that, as we surrender to Him all that we don’t understand, and some we will never understand until we see Him, we simply cling to Him daily.  He promises that He will be working and shaping us to look more like Him in our life, our actions, our attitudes, our speech, and our motivation.  Why?  So that we represent Him well in our world.  How we behave and respond to others is to be representative of the Lord.   

How we need “His wisdom” for our daily walk.   I want to quote a brief comment made by Dr. Charles Swindoll that gripped my heart and flooded it with encouragement.

“Wisdom comes privately from God as a by-product of right decisions, godly reactions, and the application of scriptural principles to daily circumstances.  Wisdom comes, for example, not from seeking after a ministry…but more from anticipating the fruit of a disciplined life.

Not from trying to do great things for God…but more from being faithful to the small, obscure tasks few people ever see.”   Dr. Charles Swindoll

Regardless of our place in life, we are an influencer!   Our lives can motivate, persuade, win over, shape and have a marvelous affect on people…. toward the love Christ has for them.  We need to “be the gospel…. the gospel with skin on,” so people can see and feel the love of Christ through our little, insignificant to us, oatmeal-like lives.

I’ve so embraced the comment by Elizabeth Elliott…. KEEP YOURSELF SMALL!  God is the extraordinary One.  It’s not about us…. it’s about Him!

Our lives cannot be all smiles, we all realize that.  But let’s allow the “light of His Presence within us” to shine, even if, at times, through the tears.  His presence within each of His kids brings influence.  Let’s walk that out, through the power of His Holy Spirit within us.

Would people want to follow Jesus……after they’ve spent time with you?

This post may be presented differently this time, as I’m going to envisage that you may be sitting right here with me across from my computer screen.  I’d offer you tea or coffee,but since that’s an impossibility, let’s just imagine that delight.  OK?

I don’t know about you, but I often have real practical questions that I’d love to ask and involve others in what they might contribute.  Even though we may have been born and live in different countries, with their unique culture, we’re all so similar due to the fact we’re human.

Regardless of the maturity level in our walk with our Savior, if we belong to Jesus, we should continue to grow more like Him in our walk, our talk, and our thought-life.  Resembling more of His attitudes, response and outreach to others in our life.  Perfection will come when we’re “with Him…in His presence.”  But right now, we’re in His school of education: like on-the-job training.

One area of passion that continues to grow for me is that I want to experience His presence more in the day-to-day of life.  Yes, we have our “quiet times” or “devotional intervals” where we read His Word and talk with Him.  But more importantly, I yearn to “listen” more and increasingly digest His Word. 

The past few months have been a bit stretching, to say the least.  The playground of my life has been around people who have strong opinions about issues in life, and they have felt prompted to unfold them with vigor in my direction.

Let me just ask…. have you encountered an explosion of unrequested opinions in your direction, when you haven’t asked for them?  I know, we’re all “designed differently, and have different personalities,” I get that.   But personally, my inner posture has the tendency to want to abandon the conversation and quickly vacate the premises.  Are you like that?  Maybe not, but that’s how I’m wired.

The human part of me wants to retort or counter their comments and, to be blatantly honest, put them in their place.   That is, a place that would move them some distance from me.   Well, that’s not the prescribed response that would honor God, now would it?  Remember, I’m being humanly honest, not biblically correct.

This particular morning, I asked Jesus to show me how I am to respond to comments or situations that frustrate, disappoint, or hurt me.  I’m not talking about preferences, but things that are done to us or around us that just aren’t pleasing to God or encouraging to those listening.

Perhaps you’ve had numerous scenarios like this yourself and you wonder how can you change things or adapt.  I really wanted to hear from God.  I wanted His perspective and guidance from His Word.

Wouldn’t you know, He does want us to know the right thing to think, to do, or to say (or not say).  Better we come away from those types of personal interactions wishing we’d said more, than wish we’d said less!

This verse in Psalm 119:9 came like a gushing fountain to my mind.

Psalm 119:9 “How can a young man cleanse his way?  By taking HEED according to Your Word.”

God is not into shouting into our packed-full, mobile phone-carrying and activity-addicted life.  His preferred communication is in a “still small voice” through His Word, through our circumstances, and through wise, and mature Godly counsel. 

I’m not the brightest button on the blouse, but I’ve found that when I read a Scripture, I assume that I understand the meaning of most of the words on the page. But this day, I relinquished my pride and decided to employ Webster’s dictionary as my help-mate to what some of the key words might mean, and how God may be “still small-voicing me” with His counsel.

I’m going to invite you to look over my shoulder of discovery on a couple of words that made me “think.”  What does it mean to take HEED to His Word?

HEED:  It means to:  pay attention, to comprehend, to bear in mind, to take heart, to be guided by, to follow and be alert to obey

When I first became a follower of Christ Jesus, I knew next to nothing.  Many of the descriptive words in the Bible and cliches’ were all new to me.  So, I used “the dictionary” many times to check and see if I really knew what the key words in a verse meant.  After locating some of the key words, I’d use a thesaurus (to view the synonyms of that word) or an ordinary dictionary to broaden the meanings of a specific word in the text. 

Then I would rewrite the scripture verse using some of the various synonyms.  In doing this, it expanded my thoughts on what the verse meant.   And I’m not referring to taking the verse out of context … I trust you know what I mean.

As I glanced down further to verse 15, I came across another two words for which I “thought” I knew their meaning.   I employed Mr. Webster’s tool and my thesaurus again, and to my surprise, the key words seemed to explode on the page.

Psalm 119:15 “I will MEDITATE on Your PRECEPTS and CONTEMPLATE Your ways.”

Lord, what does it mean to “meditate” on Your “precepts” and to “contemplate” Your ways?”  May I bring you with me to class with me again?

MEDITATE:   It means to think over, to reflect, to focus on one thing, to fully concentrate or ponder

PRECEPTS:   Principle, directive, guideline, doctrine, commandment, working principle, law, instruction intended to regulate thought or behavior

CONTEMPLATE:   It means to examine, study, to regard, to scrutinize, to observe, to look thoughtfully, to pore over, and to search

To take to heart God’s instructions on how to live, think, behave and speak and serve.

Illustration of re-writing Psalm 119:15  by re-writing it, using the meaning of some of the key words. 

‘Focus, reflect, ponder and think deeply on God’s instructions and directions, along with examining, scrutinizing and looking thoughtfully at what God says to help you regulate your behavior about your actions, attitudes and speech so it reflects God’s way, instead of the ways of the world.’

God wants us to take our time to really “think deeply” about what He says, rather than just run through the verses, saying to ourselves, I’ve read that…and rush on to another chapter or verse.                                                                              

Get serious about what the Lord of Heaven has just communicated to us.  Isn’t that astounding, that the Creator of the universe and our personal “Creator/Designer” speaks personally to you and to me!

If we were in another country and the premier, the president or the leader wanted to chat with us, what preparations would we make.  I would certainly have a pad and pen ready to take notes to gain information.  But God, Almighty wants to “communicate with each of us.”  He doesn’t leave a voice-mail!

He will speak, when we’re ready to hear and listen.   And those are two different verbs.  I may hear what He says to me, but listening involves “obedience;” Yes Lord, it’s an attitude on which “I will act on what I hear.”  IT’S TAKING GOD SERIOUS, isn’t it?!

Going back to the beginning of this “blog” …. I wanted to know from God, how do I handle this situation, that has wounded me?  I asked Him to show me, in His Word what to do.   And believe me, He did.  But it wasn’t a “rushed response” like we wish for.

I think this is the reason we need to spend “quality time with Jesus” to be able to be “tuned into His frequency,” and not be ready to pop off to our next task.

To bottom-line all this:  Many things are better left unsaid, and many opinions are better left unspoken, not only for the sake of others, but for the sake of one’s own well-being.

So, would you like to join me in God’s “Crafting Comments” class?  Like any delicious recipe, you want to “weigh the ingredients” so things will turn out right and digestible. 

There are numerous scriptures that serve as a compass for our words.  Here are just three.

Proverbs 15:28a “The heart of the godly thinks carefully before speaking”   

Proverbs 16:23 “The heart of the wise teaches his mouth and adds learning to his lips.”

Ephesians 4:29 “Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up, according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”

I’ve just now closed this blog….and will now close my mouth, and close down the keyboard.  See you in “class.”

Hello there!

It has been a while since I’ve posted anything.  We moved from Arizona to British Columbia 9 months ago, and I’m still “adjusting!”  You’d think that by the frequency of our God-orchestrated “moving adventures,” I’d have this in the bag…. but I don’t.

Like any outdoor plant that is transplanted, it feels weak, floppy in places, root ball out of sorts, and a sense of awkwardness in its new location. 

Years ago, a friend came for a week’s visit.  She’s my kind of friend…. she enjoys gardening and it’s reflected in her attire.  To expound on that statement, we both were covered with dirt from “neck to knees” as a result of the enjoyment we were having transplanting several shrubs.

It’s been stated that men perspire, and women glow.  Well, we were in “high-voltage” on steroids as we glowed that day.

A week had passed since our “removal & re-arranging” effort took place.  I was decking my body out in a comfy chair on our little porch with a cuppa tea, enjoying the fresh air, and admiring the newly-arranged plants in the front yard. 

There was one plant however that needed a closer look and an additional touch of tenderness to it.  As I was fiddling around with some branches, a person approached me from the side and delivered their reported observations.    

Your plant looks sick!  The facial expression didn’t require any additional words.  “Well, thank you for your keen observation” said under my breath.

The person seemed friendly enough, so I engaged them in conversation as well as providing him with an explanation about the “tired and floppy-looking plant.  

Going right to the point, I shared how it had just been transplanted and that’s why it looked so saggy, a bit disheveled, and clearly just tired!

This plant was in a new location, with new dirt, new neighboring plants, a new outlook, a new comfort zone, and it was ADJUSTING!

Perhaps this will explain why I haven’t had the momentum to write.  So, with anticipating your grace and understanding, I’ll try and begin again with a post now and then.  Sound good?  And while I’m at it, if you’d like to communicate your thoughts, please just email me.

In our little community, I’ve been introduced to a few new “feathered friends,” Mallard Ducks!  We’ve become friends through a non-traditional “dining experience” each afternoon.  I give them a special nutritious food which is calibrated and mixed especially for ducks.  No bread, which is bad for wildlife.  They feed from the grass in the park and their other natural duck habitat delights, and I just share just a dietary ingredient to top off their foraging….as they need to remain wild and obtain food on their own.

As I studied their behavior in their natural habitat over the weeks, I found that their presence brought me a great deal of joy.  I’d daily walk away from them with a big smile on my face.

Observing these little wild critters, I realized they were gifts from God, for they were His creation too. 

Do you remember the movie, Chariots of Fire?  The young Christian athlete, Eric Liddell, wouldn’t run in the Olympics on Sunday as he wanted to honor the Lord Jesus.  If you’ve seen the movie, no doubt you’ll remember his comment:

“When I run, I feel His pleasure.”

God designed this young man to be a fast runner.   His “gifting” in this area of sport brought glory and honor to God.   But the delight was not only to His Lord.  Eric too, shared in the experience by “living out God’s plan and purposes” in his own life; and when he lived out what God had in mind……………. HE FELT GOD’S PLEASURE in doing so.

God designed me to enjoy wildlife.  Over the years and our many moves and adventures, God has had plans beyond what we could ever have imagined.   In every place we’ve lived, I’ve been introduced to a wide variety of “wildlife.”

God has “gifted” every one of His kids while here on earth for heavenly purposes! 

Are you living out God’s plans and purposes in your life, your neighborhood, your job, your circle of friends, your homelife?

Our abilities or giftedness from our Creator God is designed to “bring glory to God,” or the term “making God look good” is what I enjoy.

Do you feel His pleasure when you live out by serving or loving others in practical ways?

What a “souvenir of grace” for God to desire that we “enjoy expressing Him” as He orchestrates our moment-by-moment, hour-by-hour, and day-by-day steps.

What is it that you do, and by that, YOU FEEL HIS PLEASURE when you do it??

Each day our lives are a ‘page’ that God composes in our voyage of faith.  We’re given only twenty-four hours in a day.  And we live moment-to-moment, hour-by-hour, and day-by-day.  We all have the same amount of time (a precious commodity).

The date of this writing is May 26, 2024.  Today each moment and hour are held in my Father’s hand.   He’s the Author of my day.  He has the script, and has the right to compose all the details of this day for me.

Just a moment ago, a friend sent me the following photo text, and oh, how it ties in so poignantly with what’s on my mind and heart today.

“No one talks about how hard spiritual growth and dying to ourself is.  It’s not a one-time thing, it’s every day.  It’s remaining quiet when we want to speak.  It’s trusting God’s timing when we would rather control.  It’s doing it God’s way when it doesn’t make sense to us.”

Are you a “planner?”  I am!  Sometimes I dislike admitting that.  It’s okay to plan, but wisdom instructs us to plan with the thought in mind that God may interrupt our plans…. for His own.   We have no idea what’s on His mind, heart and Divine agenda for each day.

The last several months have been challenging, stretching, emotional and filled with some “what ifs” and occasional fears.  How’s that for being transparent?!  The last two sentences certainly wouldn’t be popular on Facebook…where people manufacture details that usually aren’t the accurate facts of their lives. 

As I look into the rear-view mirror of the last eight and a half months, it reminds me of the T-shirt my husband purchased for me.  The large print centered in bold on the shirt reads……

GOD IS STILL WRITING YOUR STORY …

STOP TRYING TO STEAL THE PEN

I often attempt to “orchestrate concrete plans” with no thought of sharing my plans with Jesus, it’s as though I’m trying to take control of THE PEN.   Plan, yes, but consider the option of God’s intervention and altering the agenda.  It’s allowing God the privilege of holding and directing the “pen.”  Here’s another…….

IF YOU WANT GOD TO OPEN AND CLOSE DOORS,

YOU NEED TO LET GO OF THE DOORKNOB

This is where Proverbs 3:5-6 comes into play….in our planning.  Bring Him in on all our plans (in all our ways, acknowledge Him, and He will direct our paths).

Today is September 25, 2024.  This is one hundred and twenty-two days “later” from the composing of the first page and a half of this read.   That reveals that God has been with me, for me, and working on my behalf scripting each day’s events.

We felt strongly that God was moving us back to Canada.  So, we have had our home up “for sale” for eight and a half months, preparing for an international move.  

Two days prior to my placing my thoughts and events on paper (May 24^th) God was texting events that would be our long-awaited answer, but we were not aware that His “answer” was just around the corner, waiting for our discovery.

Four days later a buyer made an offer on our home and two days later they “signed off” on the conditions of purchase of our house.  Done, finished, completed in six days.   Four days later they came over and told us they wanted to purchase all of the remaining furniture that we hadn’t moved.  WE WERE FREE in every way to move out.  We moved out seven days later on our trip to Canada. The people were to move in within three weeks.  In the hot months of summer, seldom do homes sell in Arizona.  Many people offered the unwanted advice to tell us the fact that in the very hot summer months things just don’t sell in that climate.  God had His agenda and weather is never an issue to intrude on His sovereign will.

Reading this from my journal (which I find is a great discipline to record the Lord’s activity in my life).  It almost takes my breath away.

A few weeks prior to the “answer”, a friend had asked me how I was coping.  It was God’s Word that uplifted me from one day to another.  I had memorized some verses and some days I had to repeat His words to me often.  It kept my heart resting and the oxygen of faith refreshing me.

Sometimes my inner joy was “undercover,” but my response to her actually brought laughter to both of us.  I remember saying that “In these eight and a half months, I could have had a baby!”

Laughter wrapped up the conversation and I hung up.  However, God had heard my words and He remained on the line.  I say that because the moment I pressed the “end call” button, God began to finish what He had to say on the matter.

Dianne, in the last number of months, it wasn’t a baby forming within you, it was “Me birthing and developing an additional dimension of your character.” 

I was breathless at the thoughts God injected within my mind.

This delivery of His answer was right on time.  His schedule, His plans and His ways, right on time. 

I must invite you into a few “inside details” that will bring laughter and a sense of awe to all these facts.

God delights in the DETAILS of our lives.  Psalm 37:23,24

“The Lord directs the steps of the godly.  He delights in EVERY DETAIL of their lives.”

The morning the realtor brought her client to view our property, I was prepared with everything in its place, lights on, and dog in my arms ready to head to the garage and drive down the street while they looked at our home.

The doorbell rang ten minutes earlier than the expected arrival.  I thought it might be a neighbor stopping by, but as I went to the door and looked out, it was not a neighbor, but the client.

So, I will give you a glimpse of the aura at the front door, I was IN ROLLERS.  It was too late to disappear into the garage.  I swallowed my pride and opened the door.  I commented that “I knew if I put my hair in rollers, someone would show up.”   We all laughed.

I scurried to the garage, and as I pulled out of the garage, I began to laugh…. uncontrollably.  I was just two houses away, still laughing, and this “thought” came to me.      

SARAH LAUGHED TOO WHEN GOD TOLD HER SHE WAS HAVING A BABY AT 90.

My laugher halted right then.  I thought…. where did this thought come from.  I realize what the verse was referring to, but I wasn’t 90, nor having a baby.

Well, as I backed into a neighbor’s driveway, I was still laughing.  God wasn’t finished introducing thoughts into my mind.

A soon as I parked, this verse came to my mind.

Isaiah 55:12 “You shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace.”  It was at this point that I knew God was speaking TO ME…. but all the pieces weren’t in place yet.  

After returning home, I wrote down the thoughts that came to me and I wondered what would happen next. 

The following day, the realtor said they had a client that wanted to return with her mother to view the home.  My husband and I were in the living room waiting for their arrival. 

As they pulled up in front of our home, the woman came out and I realized that she was the same gal who saw me in rollers the day before.  My husband asked me if I was sure it was the same person.

Are you kidding, how could I forget her….and I sensed my appearance in rollers would still have a lingering visual impression on her mind.

As I opened the door, we all just burst out in laughter and shared big hugs. After they viewed the home again, we received a positive response from both parties. 

But before they left, we all went into the kitchen for their final comments.  Here’s where God brought the house down not only with  laughter, but with tears of joy.

I shared with them that I was a Christian and I had privately asked Jesus to bring whoever He wanted to purchase our home, but that He would also bring someone who loved animals and would continue feeding the little bunny that I had fed twice a day for a year and a half.

The woman was delighted!  My bunny would appear twice a day at the same times.  But THIS DAY, she arrived early.  I took the owner-to-be outside to show her the covered location I used for feeding and watering.  It was there that the bunny appeared!  So, I made the introduction tossing out a few pieces of carrot.  After we moved, even my neighbor offered to feed the bunny for a couple weeks until the new owners took possession of the house.

Now before you think of calling people in light-colored jackets, may I remind you again of Psalm 37:23.  We say He DELIGHTS IN THE DETAILS OF OUR LIVES…. but do we really believe that?

Well, He certainly does.  With all the medical issues, stress of weekly open houses and keeping the house spotless together with the preparation for an international move………God saw my “tiny little desire” for the care of this wild bunny. 

In the world’s economy of things, this was nothing.  But God wanted to encourage me by showing me that He was handling everything….and that provision of care for this little bunny was just the “icing on the cake of His sovereign care.”

We now look back at those recent months with appreciation for a number of things.   Can’t we see things much clearer in our rear-view mirror.   We often wondered about His purpose in having us in the heat of Arizona.  There were a number of medical issues I experienced while there, and the last issue was resolved two weeks before we moved.  

But the one that stands out was that Peter and I were both diagnosed with different forms of skin cancer the same week.  We both had surgeries and are cancer free.   We had the noticeable cancer spots for at least two years, and interestingly dermatology specialist physicians in both Canada and Australia never recognized the symptoms.

Had the Lord Jesus not moved us to Arizona, we both would never have known one another been diagnosed and cancer removed.  But…. God knew that, and even though our move there didn’t make sense to us or to any of our friends, it made perfect sense to our all-knowing heavenly Father and provider.  I think many people thought we were crazy and lacked any wisdom at all.   But we’ve learned, as perhaps you have as well, that God doesn’t have to make “human sense” at all.

God knows what’s best for each of us.  A truth that we must embrace each and every day.

Proverbs 20:24 “A man’s steps are from the Lord, so how can anyone understand his own way.”

As an orchestra leader directs the flow of the instruments involved in the concert, our Lord Jesus wants to do the same as He composes our story, our journey…. MOMENT-BY-MOMENT, DAY-BY-DAY, HOUR-BY-HOUR, AND MINUTE-BY-MINUTE.

God is not in a box.  His ways are higher than ours and many times very mysterious.  Our logic, and our perceived assessment may well be way off course if we haven’t committed and surrendered our way to Him.

Isaiah 55:8-9

“My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord.  And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.  For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so my thoughts higher than your thoughts.”

Each day our lives are a “page” in the composition by the Lord of  our story.  He orchestrates our steps, our starts, our stops and the people we’re to “influence” for His plan and purpose in “their precious lives.”

Jesus knew how to relate to people in down-to-earth ways which  “they could comprehend.”  And He uses our lives and experiences to touch and tender others.

So, it’s not HOW MUCH WE KNOW, or how fluent or eloquent we may or may not be because…… PEOPLE DON’T CARE HOW MUCH WE KNOW……THEY ONLY KNOW HOW MUCH WE CARE.

WHO DO YOU WANT TO ATTRACT OR INFLUENCE TO JESUS?

A friend called me one day and asked if he could come over with a friend of his for coffee.   He wanted me to meet him and hear his story of coming to Christ.  As this man shared with me, I was awe-struck with what he told me.  

My friend had loved him in practical ways, shared life with him and graciously and gently shared about Jesus with him over the months. 

After months of their friendship, this unbeliever said to him.  “You know, I want to begin following Jesus.”   My friend asked him…..WHY (of all questions).   His response took my breath away and I hope it has the identical affect on you. 

“I want to know Jesus and follow Him, because I know you.”

WHO DO YOU WANT TO ATTRACT OR INFLUENCE TO JESUS?

Years ago, God gave me my life goal….and it is:    

AFTER PEOPLE SPEND TIME WITH ME, WHAT DO THEY THINK OF JESUS CHRIST?”

People are reading our lives, absorbing our words to them, and our words about them.  We may be the only Bible people are reading.  As others view the chapters of our interaction with them, what do they think of HIM?

COMPASS THOUGHT……………………… 

WHAT DO PEOPLE THINK ABOUT JESUS AFTER SPENDING TIME WITH YOU?     Working with you, listening to you talk to others, listening how you talk about others, and just by watching your life?

This man wanted Jesus because of what he saw and heard from his Christian friend.   I so want that in my life….and I trust you feel the same.