Cup of Algae Anyone?

If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink

John 7:37

I love fresh eggs. My family has raised chickens since 2000, because I am convinced that the only good egg is the one you retrieve everyday from your personal poultry flock. In recent years I have enjoyed experimenting with a variety of breeds, simply because I enjoy the colors and plumage of these distinct birds. My current flock is beautiful, and I have enjoyed their color and markings. 

Birds like people need daily care. My husband consistently tends to our flock during the nine-month school year, while I take over during the summer months. In our recent transition between him ending his care and me taking over, we lost one of my favorite birds. She had not been sick, to my knowledge, nor had she shown any signs of illness until the day before her death. I mused over the possible cause of death. 

As I began my daily summer care, I noticed that the water container my husband had set out was discolored. Upon further inspection, I was shocked to discover that the water was filled with blue-green algae growth. Had my husband not changed their water? How could he have not noticed the pea-soup colored water? Further, I discovered a swimming pool filled with stagnant water covered in blue-green algae that was tucked behind the chicken coop. Mystery solved. My chicken had died from drinking water contaminated from an over growth of blue-green algae, which can produce a deadly toxin. I went from being sorrowful over the loss of my one hen to grateful that the remaining 29 had actually survived. I removed the pool immediately and scrubbed the water container and filled it with clean, fresh water. 

Drinking algae contaminated water is not a practice I recommend, but many of us daily drink from spiritually contaminated containers filled with "spiritual algae" in an attempt to satisfy our longing and thirsty souls. Our minds and intellect thirst, and we often quench this with material that leaves us panting and dissatisfied. Our souls and emotions thirst too, and we turn to the culture that can leave our souls languishing.  

Jesus is the only source from which our souls can daily drink from and be satisfied. His  "spiritual water" is filled with Hope, Compassion, Loving-kindness, Forgiveness, Justice, Peace, Patience, Gentleness, Love, and Goodness. His guarantee is that when we drink from His "water container" we will never thirst again (John 4:14).

What "cup of algae" have you been drinking? Although you may not think your drinking hole is contaminated,  it may be that there is a delayed reaction and that the full impact of your choice has not yet been realized. My hen died. Are you in the process of dying spiritually or emotionally? Today, choose to drink from a source that is pure and clean and promises life eternal and life in abundance. Today, choose Jesus. 

Jesus, thank you for offering "spiritual water" that is pure and promises life eternal. Thank you that your love and kindness never cease and your compassion never fails. Today, I choose to drink from the fountain that sustains and satisfies. Today, I choose you. Amen. 

Brown Paper Bag Love

While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.

2 Corinthians 4:18

Years ago I attended a church were a kind, elderly widowed man faithfully attended. This man had been a pillar in both  his community and church. His aging body beguiled his once prominence and strength. Never would I have known his importance in the community, because his gentleness and humility was his drawing card. 

Naturally being drawn to the older elderly, I began to bring him Christmas gifts each year wrapped in brilliant colors and pizzazz. On one particular Sunday I came prepared to deliver my usual bag of goodies. What was different this year, though, was when I approached him sitting in the pew he was waiting for me. He had taken note of my consistent yearly packages and decided he would reciprocate. Sitting next to him was a small brown paper bag folded over. His frail hand was resting on top of the bag with an anticipatory grin spread across his face. "How sweet," I mused. I greeted him and delivered my simple gifts in my usual elaborate packaging. Reaching down, the man quietly and simply handed me the brown paper bag. We exchanged pleasantries and I went on my way. 

Admittingly, I blew off the contents of the bag and went about my day. Later I opened the brown paper bag, and to my complete shock, I found the most beautiful, hand-crafted, hand-painted wooden egg from the Ukraine. The artistry of this gift continues to be astonishing. Like the man's earthly opulence hidden behind meekness, his extravagant gift of love was hidden behind a brown paper bag. 

This love, wrapped in a brown paper bag, reminds me of the way the King of this universe delivers His love. While the world waits to have God deliver His extravagant love in houses, cars, careers, deep friendships, taylor-made clothing, words that stroke our egos, and other sightly acts and gifts of confirmation, God chooses to deliver His love hidden behind simple, rough packing. Often we ignore or rebuke these gifts as inferior, because they do not appeal to our selfish desires and senses. But know this, the packaging may be rough but the gift inside is extravagant. 

My dad's suicide was one such gift. At first I rebuked the thought that a God who loved me would hand me a package wrapped in such pain and trauma, but what I learned over a period of several months was that inside this roughly donned package was "hand-crafted" and "hand-painted" gifts of beauty that only a King could have crafted and delivered-love, compassion, insight, grace, forgiveness, understanding, and most importantly being personally attended to by the King of the universe. God delivered so much of my understanding of life through this "brown paper bag" of love. In fact, like the egg, I would never trade my gift with anyone else. 

What is inside your brown paper bag? Perhaps you have dismissed this gift or have been angry at the way it was packaged and delivered. Sometime diamonds are delivered in rough packages. Today, take hold of your bag. Open it. Embrace the love, because like me, once it is opened you will never want to let go. 

Jesus, you were delivered on a cross. Blood streaming down. Because of this, I now have eternal life. God, thank you for brown paper bag deliveries-the unseen gift of eternal life. 

       

Wonder and Amazement

But Peter said, "I do not posses silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the Name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene-walk!"...And the people saw him walking...and they were filled with wonder and amazement.

Acts 3:6, 10

Reading the story of how Peter healed a lame man in the strength and power of Jesus Christ was moving, but what really stood out to me was the response of those who had known of this man's history. From birth this man was lame. Each day he was taken and set down at the temple gate to beg for his daily bread. After his miraculous healing, the people "were filled with wonder and amazement at what had happened to him." 

After reading this, my mind began to question the last time I had been filled with "wonder and amazement." When was the last time I remember seeing or experiencing someone being healed? Being a nurse one would think every day, and in reality this is true. But what saddened me was that in the presence of every day miracles, my soul's vision and ability to experience "wonder and amazement" lay shrouded under daily doubt, grumbling and complaining, and attitudes that reflect my inability to see opportunities in trials. Yes, God still performs healing miracles of mind, body, and soul daily, but I had allowed daily disappointments to blind me to His glorious, healing presence. 

How about you? How different would your influence be if you would open up the window of you soul to view the daily miracles of God's healing and grace? How different would your attitude be if you chose to praise God "in all things" in place of complaining and grumbling? What if instead of doubt you saw possibilities? When is the last time you were filled with "wonder and amazement?" What is clouding your vision to see the every day miracles that God performs?

God still performs miracles. Jesus Christ still heals. The ability for us to see these daily acts of healing lies in where we choose to place our focus. Today, I am going to choose to see the miracles and healing of life all around me, regardless of how small or seemingly insignificant. I will choose to remember that Christ died so that I may live eternally in His presence. How about you? Choose this day whom you will serve-Be saved and be filled with "wonder and amazement."

Today, Father, remind me of the every day miracles you perform. Fill me with thanksgiving. Heal my hurts. Restore my hope. Fill me with the wonder and amazement of You. Lord, today, I am filled with "wonder and amazement" that You love me, a sinner. For this alone I stand amazed. Amen!

Stepping with Intention

Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.

Galatians 6:9

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 

John 3:16

Hiking trail three in Turkey Run State Park, located in Central Indiana,  in early spring can not only be breathtaking but very treacherous. My husband and I began our hike through the ravine that leads to ladders mounted into rock. Ice still clung to the rocks overhead, and black ice rested boulder and mud, while sheer ice covered the stream as we decidedly moved forward. Each step on our hike was deliberate and intentional, because lack of focus and intention would ultimately lead to a wrong choice, a misstep, and finally a mishap. 

As we passed fellow sojourners, we listened as they conveyed the trials of the up and coming trail that lay before us and behind them. They shared their battles wounds from missteps and asked their questions about the trail that yet lay before them and behind us. We joked, we admired the canyons, but we never forgot the importance of staying focused and stepping with intention. My husband commented that the trail was like "trying to figure out a jigsaw puzzle." 

This trail reminds me of the importance of "stepping with intention" through life. How different would our lives be if we were more mindful of the choices we made, if we analyzed our words before we spoke, if we, with great intention, decided the best way to "love one another?" What if every step was calculated and best suited for the situation? And what if after that we still made the wrong choice?

My lessons that day? Keeping my mind focused and being intentional of my steps kept me safe and mostly dry. Although I did make a few poor choices that led to sinking in mud and water, being focused and intentional allowed me to be quick and change direction without the misery of being stuck in a wrong decision and lamenting over the consequence. 

We are all navigating the "jigsaw puzzle" called life. Each day we muse over the next piece. Often we haphazardly attempt to connect the pieces to form a meaningful picture, but find that nothing makes sense and only leads to pain, frustration, and wasted time. The challenge we should all accept is that we must choose with intention the next step that will lead to the most success with the least amount of personal and relational damage. If we choose wrongly, then we must be quick to recalculate our decision and redirect our steps. We must accept forgiveness and continually move forward for the good of all. 

Christ died to free us from the burden of our sin. He stepped with intention to the cross, because He understood it was for our good He was dying. For whose good should you begin "stepping with intention?"

Hooked by Fear

Fear Not

God, 365 Times!!

I am slow to learn a lesson. In fact, most of my life lessons have come through taking a "life field trip" in place of learning in the "classroom." I was the "why" kid growing up, and typically insisted on doing what the adults in my life attempted to protect me from-consequences. Recently the ancient directive by God to "fear not" was solidified in my mind on a late night fishing trip. And yes, I had to learn this lesson on a "life field trip."

My husband and I decided to take our fishing poles and cast off a dock located near a cemetery. It was dark and cold when we arrived, and the area was vacated. As we began to park, we saw a truck with its headlights pulling in. I casually remarked that perhaps "Jack the Ripper" had been resurrected. As we walked down to the dock, my mind began to wonder about the unknown visitor we thought was present. My mind, and admittedly my husband's mind, began to allow fear to dictate our behaviors. After every cast, we both looked back toward the cemetery and began to imagine apparitions appearing to overtake us. Really, I was more concerned about who had pulled in after our arrival. My husband began unsheathing his fillet knife in his mind, and role played the many ways he would protect his "fishing damsel" in distress. Actually, I believe he was rehearsing self-preservation techniques. After a few short minutes, we decided to call it quits and go back to our truck.

The short journey back to the truck was not without consequences. In my fear, I had not anchored my bright, pink crappie lure, with two treble hooks, to my pole. I was completely self-absorbed and not realizing that I was jerking my pole back and forth as I continually scanned my environment with as much variance in degree as my body would allow. What snapped me out of my reactive responses was my husband's unusual use of colorful expletives cast towards me. Suddenly, my fear turned to curiosity, and as I turned to inquire the nature of my husband's use of words, I saw the consequences of my fear dangling from my husband's temple-my bright pink fishing lure. I had hooked my husband. The lure initially struck his nose, bounced up to his eye, and then decidedly landed above his eye and attached to his temple. Thank goodness his hat, and not his skin, took the hook. After I recovered from laughter, I then realized why God continually tells us to "Fear Not."

When we fear, we hook into ourselves and not God. Fear prevents us from trusting God and places trust in ourselves. It creates a self-protective layer that refuses to acknowledge others around us. We damage others with the hooks of our words, our actions, and our careless omissions. "Fear not," because we make poor choices. Trusting in God empowers us to care about what is happening to those surrounding us. It reminds people that if my God can take care of me then He most certainly can take care of them. Why "fear not?" Because "He is with us." Today, hook into God and not fear.

Father, today, help me to trust you. Remind me that fear creates pain in those around me. I will trust in you, because you will always be with me. In you, Oh Lord, I trust. Amen 

Mindful Occupation

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget none of His benefits;

Who pardons all your iniquities (Sins),

Who heals all your diseases (physical, mental, spiritual, emotional);

Who redeems your life from the pit (graves of our own making),

Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion;

Who satisfies your years with good things,

So that your youth is renewed like the eagle....

The LORD is compassionate and gracious,

Slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.

Psalm 103:2-5, 8

"How did I end up in this place again?" were my thoughts on December 29, 2012. My closets were full of clothes no longer suited to my taste, my cupboards were overflowing with dishware that I do not use, socks were piled with no mates on my laundry table, and kitchen drawers stocked with good intentions forgotten littered my cabinets. Once again my home was occupied with "stuff" draining my mental energies and controlling my time to move, clean, and work around. 

Every year I declare that I will not be taken over with unnecessary "stuff", but each year my mindless choices take over and occupy me like Germany did in Eastern Europe during World War 2. When I read today's Psalm (103), I am struck by how my spiritual, emotional, and mental life could be different in 2013 if I begin the practice of "mindful occupation." 

Mindful Occupation is to be occupied with God. To be intentional about allowing him to fill and control my thinking. If I am intentional about what occupies my mental, spiritual, and emotional "closets and drawers," then I will be free from the unnecessary clutter of fear, doubt, worry, and anxiety that clutters my soul. 

This Psalm is about being occupied with the the knowledge that in Christ my sins are forgiven, that I am healed from the diseases that my sin inflicts (fear, anxiety, worry, hopelessness, etc),  that He redeems and removes me from the "life graves" of my own making, that I am crowned with His love and compassion, and that the satisfaction of knowing I am pardoned will renew my heart and allow it to freely soar in His presence and grace. 

Yes, "mindful occupation" will allow us to choose what enters both the home of our hearts and our houses. I must be mindful, or like my house, I will be overtaken with unnecessary artifacts that clutter and clamor for both my time, space, and energy.

 Today, choose to "Bless the LORD" and then step back and be blessed. Let Him fill your heart and mind with truth. Occupy your thoughts with His promises of love and restoration. Be renewed knowing that He is "slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness." What better way for your soul to be filled and controlled. Yes, we have a choice. Today, mindfully choose Christ.

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me bless His holy name (Psalm 103:1). Today, and each day forward, be filled with the "GOOD NEWS" that Jesus Saves. Amen. 

Super-sized by Smallness

Choose for yourselves....

Joshua 24:15

Having been a nurse for nearly 30 years, I am a witness to the ravages of daily lifestyle choices that bring about disease and death. A vivid portrayal of the consequences to daily life choices can be seen in the 2004 documentary "Supersize Me" by Morgan Spurlock. In this film Spurlock explores the health outcomes of making daily, dietary choices that run counter to good health. He spends 30 days eating all three meals at one chosen fast food establishment, and readily agrees to "supersize" any menu item if asked. The results were rapid weight gain, high cholesterol levels, mood changes, liver changes, and other dangerous health outcomes. His rapid decline led some on his medical team to implore him to abort the experiment before irreversible body and organ damage occurred. Spurlock continued to the end. 

The results of Spurlock's poor outcomes did not rest in his agreeing to being "supersized," but in his day to day, moment to moment decisions of menu items he selected. Each day, and for each meal, he made small choices that ultimately led to his "super-sized" health decline. Like Spurlock, our day to day, moment to moment "small" choices lead us to experience "Super-sized" consequences.

It is in the smallness of life's daily decisions that we end up living with "supersized" outcomes. Divorce occurs because the unfaithfulness of the spouse began with one "small", intentional glance. Financial ruin resulted after one friendly game of poker. Death ended a vibrant life due to one "small" vodka shot. All decisions are "Super-sized by Smallness." 

Decide today, and each day, what you want your life to be "Super-sized" by, and then make the "small" choices that become the pathway to this end. Like Spurlock, life holds out a menu, and like Spurlock, you get to choose.

I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live....by loving the LORD your God, by obeying His voice, and by holding fast to Him; for this is your life and the length of your days.... Deuteronomy 30:19-20   

Today, choose life-choose Christ.

Father, I choose you, I choose life. Every small decision leads somewhere. Help me to make the right decisions. Help me to have a vision that leads to life with you. In your power and in your strength, I rest. Thank you, LORD, for the power to choose small and live large. Amen.