Comfort

What speaks comfort to you? Is it a:

• Cuppa - cocoa or coffee?
• Quilt made by someone who loves you?
• Down pillow reminiscent of your favorite plush toy as a child?
• Comfortable home waiting for you at the end of a workday?
• Meal with your favorite foods, with no regards to calories?
• Special person?
• Family in harmony?
• Sense of safety when "all the chickies are in the nest"? 

     This photo shows a beautiful sunrise a few Fridays ago when God blessed our Arizona skies with soft clouds and amazing colors. It was as if he threw a multi-hued blanket over our whole valley. A friend who teaches high school shared this photo--her reward for having to get up early for work. By the time I got up, I missed the colors but saw the blanket of clouds.

                                                                        (Photo courtesy Jamie McQueen)

     How does God comfort?

• Through his understanding and care 

In spite of the huge issues going on in the world today, God lets me come to him with my problems. My concerns are valid to him, no matter how small.

• Through the avenue of prayer 

I can pray anytime, anywhere, any place. I can pray out loud, in my head, formally, or informally. The lines of communication are always open.

• Through my reading of the Bible

God's letter of love is there for me to absorb. (See August 4th post) Everything I experience is in that book! It takes a little delving on my part to find answers, but they're available.

• Through the Holy Spirit 

The Spirit is a little mysterious and somewhat puzzling. We don't talk about him as much as we talk about God or Jesus, but the Holy Spirit comforts, counsels, and empowers. I'll save the theological discussion for the preachers and scholars, but I know he exists.

When you need comforting, and who doesn't in today's world, ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with a feeling of peace. Life may continue to be turbulent, but you will experience inner calm that comes only from God.

What is the biggest problem causing you stress right now? Imagine a soft, fluffy cloud blanket from God caressing your shoulders.

God blankets you with his love and strength to walk through whatever is in store.

View from the McQueen Backyard

Grow in God's Classroom

     School, for some, brings up painful memories. For others, time spent in school was a delight. For a few, it may have been an escape from an embattled home life. I suppose the majority of students merely tolerate the whole idea of education. It is their job and they are expected to do their best.

     Be honest. What kind of a student were you?

Eager-beaver, Over-achiever
Reluctant Learner
Challenged
Middle of the Row Silent Sam
Class Clown
Plodder-Diligent Worker
Do-just-enough-to-pass Pupil
Front Row Student

     The good news is we all are God's students and there is a special seat for each of us in his classroom. Best news of all, he is the Master Teacher. He meets us where we are and gently pulls us toward him--even if we're in the very back row, resisting his tug. The key is to be teachable. Are we willing to listen, trust, and learn?

     The Bible is God's textbook and has answers and advice on whatever a human being might need to know. How happy it makes me to turn to this book, the Word of God, for anything occurring in my life. Reading scripture, no matter what version or medium used--e-book, tablet, phone, wrist computer, eye glasses computer, or even a book with real pages--enriches lives.

     Are the lessons tough? You bet. Incredibly tough sometimes. Do they produce results? Yes, if I am attuned. Too often I must repeat the lessons until I finally get the message. The bottom line is God always will be involved in my life and I feel privileged he loves me enough to show me who he is.

Favorite Students

     During my career teaching high school English, my favorite student was the one who walked into the classroom on Day One and muttered, "I hate English!" I would smile, knowing that student was my target. If I could reach him or her, I would have the whole class in tow. Planning lessons to engage a reluctant student made for a fun classroom experience. It didn't always work but sometimes magic happened and when it did, angels clapped!

     You are one of God's favorite students. Stay teachable.

Next Post:  Identify YOUR Personal Learning Style

 

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Faith and Bumper Stickers

     Years ago a colleague reported for jury duty and was surprised at one of the questions a lawyer threw at the prospective jurors:  "What bumper stickers do you have on your car?"

     At first she was puzzled but, the more she thought about it, the more she realized what we slap on the bumpers and windows of our cars often reveals our attitude about a lot of things. Bumper sticker decals speak to our faith, our political persuasion, our taste in music, our membership in organizations, our cynicism, how well our children are doing in school, and even the number of people in our families. If we have no bumper stickers, that, too, might say something about us. It was an interesting way to whittle down the jurors to the lawyer's satisfaction.

     Bumper stickers can be fun. The last two posts have been rather serious so it's time to get a little silly.

Here are bumper stickers I'd like to see:

Survival:

Cut Me Some Slack

 I'm Doing the Best I Can

 Bad Hair Day--So What!

 Perfection is Overrated

Children:

You Need How Many Cupcakes, When?

Play More and Clean Less

 Go Fly a Kite--No, Really. Go Have Fun!

 Reading with a Child Rocks

 The Worry Train has Left the Station!

Perseverance:

Move Aside, I'm Comin' Through!

Don't Mess with Me Today

 I'm Going to Pursue This 'Til It Dies or I Die!

Aging:

Retirement:  It's Nice to Have the Time to Be Busy

Message to Retirees:  Stay out of the Stores on Weekends!

Where was I Going with that Thought?

What Did I Come Into This Room For?

 When You Die, All Your Treasures Go In A Yard Sale

Don't Ask How I Am, Ask What I'm Doing

Miscellaneous:

I'm Multi-Lingual:  I Can Smile in 7 Languages

Success Re-defined = Contentment

Goal:  To Be the Best I'm Capable of Being

Garbage In, Garbage Out

You Might Wanna Try De-daf

Faith:

Heaven Looks Better All the Time

The World Needs God

Love Conquers Most Things. God's Love Conquers All

My Favorite Bumper Sticker:

Eternal Life is God's Idea of Success

     The Bible has bumper stickers. It's called the book of Proverbs. I always smile when I read that book because it conjures up a mental image of an old Grandpa or Grandma rocking on a front porch, sharing wisdom with a group of youngsters seated at their feet. And, yes, they're smoking corn cob pipes. The Old Testament book of Proverbs is God having a little fun. He distills wisdom clothed in marvelous Jewish humor.

     Ann Zwemer, former missionary nurse in India and a dear friend, has been legally blind for the past ten years. However, that hasn't kept her from publishing a book titled, Just a Moment! Daily Reflections for Thinkers. The book is formatted in large print with two reflections per page so readers who are sight-impaired can enjoy it. Behind each is a world of wisdom gained from her walk with God.

Your Turn...

      Now it's your turn. Today, whenever your family gathers together, see if you can make a list of possible bumper stickers that reflect your family's philosophy or belief system. Be creative and have fun. The kids will probably come up with some winners.

If you come up with some good bumper stickers, publish them on the Comments page so we all can get a chuckle.

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A Special Call

 
Ring. Ring.
"Hey, Friend, It's for you. God's calling."
Are you answering?

What in nature calls you to God? Is it the sea?

 Oswald Chambers in his classic devotional, My Utmost for his Highest (Discovery House Publishers, 1935), writes:  "The call of God is like the call of the sea, no one hears it but the one who has the nature of the sea in him....His call is to be in comradeship with Himself for His own purposes,..."

California Coastline

Is it the mountains?

 Fall in the Sierra Nevada Mountains                      (photo courtesy Dan Raatjes)

Perhaps it's canyons or a serene snowy woods or a ladybug sitting on a bright green leaf. What about a magnificent spider web glistening in the sun or thundering water falls?

For me, it's trees--their trunks, bark, branches, and especially their leaves. Years ago my thoughtful sister mailed me 30 colorful fall leaves from the woods of my childhood home in Ohio. They are very special to me. I laminated them and bring them out every year at the start of Fall. This year some are taped to the bathroom mirror, and some are scattered on a table top. They give me the warm fuzzies because I grew up amid a forest of shaggy bark hickory trees. (I almost hyperventilated when I first saw the California redwoods.)

What Speaks to You?

Pinpoint what in nature speaks to your soul, helps you breathe a little more deeply and smile. What makes your shoulders relax and keeps you from checking your phone for messages? When you identify "your thing," that's God calling you.

The Apostle Paul writes to the believers in Rome that no one, not even someone who never has read a Bible, has an excuse not to know God. Why? "...because the whole created world reveals him." (Study notes to Romans 1: 20, NIV)

The verse reads like this:  "For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse." (Romans 1: 20) Then Paul goes on to excoriate people who choose to live in godlessness and wickedness.

Just as the sea, mountains, snow, etc. call us to believe in God, he calls us to a relationship with him. He didn't create the world and then send us spinning off into the universe to survive on our own. He desires fellowship with us. When we worship him or spend time with him, he delights in it. I have to believe he smiles. I know he sings:

"The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing." (Zephaniah 3: 17)

Call to Action:  find a beautiful photo of a favorite scene in God's creation that pulls on you. Put it in a prominent place if it's a hard copy or display it digitally as a background on your desktop or phone. Let it be a reminder God is pulling you toward himself and he delights in your company.

God's calling. Are you answering?

Red-Eyed Leaf Frog of Costa Rica (rana ojos rojos)

Perks of a Personal Retreat

     "Calgon, Calgon, take me away!" So goes an old commercial for a product promising a soothing, soft-water soak in a tub. No bubbles, just soft water. The Calgon commercial isn't around anymore but the need to get away is.

     Wouldn't you like to step outside your daily grind of work/home/family/community/church responsibilities? Vacations, mini-vacations, stay-cations, and getaways are valuable to our mental health and we must incorporate them into our busy lives. However, these include a lot of other people.

     I'd like to propose a spiritual retreat, enjoyed in solitude and focused on prayer and Bible study. I know, I know. You barely have time to breathe let alone go traipsing off to meditate. Trust me, it can be pulled off.

     When my four children were young my life was scheduled to the max. I was deeply involved in Christian leadership in my church; I supported a husband establishing his own business by hosting dinner parties for his clients' families; together we entertained many large groups in our home for church events; and I served as air traffic controller to the kids' sports, school, church, and friends schedules. Ours was the house where neighborhood children gathered so there were many skirmishes to settle. Our children worked paper routes and the route station was in our garage, meaning more skirmishes. In addition, I was trying to establish myself as a free-lance writer. (I did my best work while the gang was engrossed in Sesame Street or the Electric Company.)

     In spite of a bursting calendar, once a year I carved out a weekend retreat for myself. It took planning to avoid important family events, and it required cajoling to convince an equally busy husband to cover the home front. I left the family with a full refrigerator, a few casseroles, and clean laundry. "This relaxing getaway thing is a lot of work!" I thought.

     For my spiritual retreats I drove up north to the mountains of Arizona because pine trees speak to me. I reserved a room in rustic Bed and Breakfasts--one time a little cabin in the woods and another a lower floor apartment overlooking the Mogollon Rim, a spectacular range of mountains.

     I took my books, my Bible, a new yellow legal pad, lots of pens, and even a small electronic typewriter that printed out documents on thermal paper (PCs hadn't been invented). 

     The Bed and Breakfasts were safe, comfortable, and provided the solitude I craved. The amenities:

• Nearby trails for long walks
• Pot-bellied stove or fireplace in the rooms 
• Breakfasts to die for 
• Antique-y little towns to explore when I needed a break

     My activities were sleeping, reading, watching television late into the night, writing, Bible study, prayer, walking in the fresh air--all the things I wanted to do but couldn't while immersed in daily responsibilities.

Alternatives to a Week End...

     Is this too much for your life? You can't get away for an entire weekend? Try a one day or even half-day escape. Visit sites around your community, sites that are relatively quiet and afford alone time. Make sure you're safe and comfortable so your day is relaxing, allowing you to commune with God.

     Visit a local park, restaurant, book store, or library. Maybe there are some churches in your community that keep their doors open for quiet worship. Perhaps you need something physical to help you unwind like a strenuous bike ride or a long run or kayaking on a lake. Be sure to include time for rest and meditation.

     Phoenix is home to two very nice Retreat Centers. One is the Franciscan Renewal Center, or the Casa as it's known locally (http://www.thecasa.org/index.php). The Casa offers organized retreats but also welcomes visitors who wish to enjoy personal spiritual times of renewal. The grounds are beautiful and very restful. The other is Canaan in the Desert run by the Evangelical Sisterhood of Mary in the U.S.A. (http://www.canaaninthedesert.com/). Time spent in their prayer garden fosters relaxation and inspiration. Even if your hometown doesn't have such resources, it does have lovely parks that allow visitors to enjoy nature.

     My home church has a large hill in the middle of its property. The church turned this construction nightmare into a blessing by creating a trail to the top where there is a cross, an empty tomb, and a bench. Along the path are stations of prayer, focusing on the Lord's Prayer. It's a very worshipful trek to make in solitude.

What to Do?

 

     Read, breathe, rest, study your Bible, pray, listen for God's direction, make important decisions, or set goals (see Post from August 12). Whatever you do, don't allow guilt to interfere, and get rid of the need to be productive. Turn off your phone and tell your family to call only if there's an emergency. Let work know you're incommunicado for the day.

     Step out of your responsibilities and commune with God. Receive his direction or his healing balm for your frazzled lifestyle. You will return stronger, healthier, and happier. Your Mental Health Day becomes so much more when you plan it to be a Spiritual Health Day. It's better than soaking in a tub full of soft water.

The Mighty Saguaro

You can always tell a newcomer to Arizona when they pronounce the saguaro cactus as "sa-goo-row" instead of the proper, "suh-whar-oh" with the accent on the middle syllable. It's almost unforgivable when a new weather person does this on local television. They end up apologizing with a red face.

Photo taken at the Lake Pleasant Visitors' Center

The saguaro is a magnificent phenomenon found only in the Sonoran Desert--that is in Arizona, northern Mexico, and just a smidgen in southeastern California. It's the mother of all cacti and the one seen on countless photos trying to lure visitors to the Southwest. I've lived in Arizona over forty years and I still am amazed at their stature and uniqueness.

Some interesting trivia (in case you ever compete on Jeopardy):

• most saguaros develop arms as they grow older, as many as 25
• beneath their prickly outer shell is a wooden spine, hollow in order to hold water
• they are slow growers--1/2 inch a year and live to be about 200 years old
• they grow in a very limited span of elevation, 200-foot window, I think
• they produce white, waxy flowers in the spring and red fruit in the late summer
• they obtain most of their moisture during the summer monsoons and very little from the more frequent but weaker winter rains
• their roots are shallow, 4 to 6 inches deep, and radiate out as far as they are tall
• they have one tap root which goes deeply into the ground--2 feet
• birds and owls make nests in the crook of a saguaro's arm (cactus wren is the Arizona state bird)
• when they die, the wooden spines are used to make furniture, fences, roofs, etc.
• it is against the law in Arizona to kill a saguaro

Well now, using this stately plant as a metaphor for living the Christian life is just too easy, but I'll go there anyway. 

If we are to exist in a harsh world (the desert) we must accumulate nourishment (water in the hollow cavity of the cactus). We must grow our roots deep into God's word, his instruction manual (the tap root), and we must be patient to grow steadily (1/2 inch a year).

We could get really sappy and consider the importance of growing arms, reaching out to others, but that makes even me gag. Metaphors can be overdone and I'm sure the saguaro cactus is sick of being held up as a model for strong Christian living. We could also point out the obvious:  we produce beauty in our lives (white, waxy flowers) and produce results from our testimonies (summertime fruit).

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." (Galatians 5: 22-23)

The one fact, however, that surprises me is that they obtain most of their water to store up for survival from the rainstorms of the ridiculously harsh summer, not the rains of the comfortable winter climate. Obviously, God created them to adapt to and endure the desert.

What does that say about us? Growth in God is a major theme of this blog and I know from personal experience, God grows me more fully during the times of distress and tragedy in my life than in the relaxed times of comfort and peace. I'm always striving for peace but he speaks to my heart and teaches me to rely on him during those awful times--times I'd rather do without.

So, Mighty Cactus. I admire your strength, uniqueness, survive-ability, longevity, and even your strange beauty. I must remember to burrow my tap root deep into the Word of God and seek my nourishment from him through study and prayer. Maybe I can even get to the point of being grateful for those tough times when God teaches me the most. Hmmm. Don't know if I'm there yet.

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5 16-18)

I think they look like whiskers on the hillside

Some perspective on their enormous size

For more fascinating information on this strange plant go to http://www.dbg.org/



If Southwestern gardening interests you, go to a friend's blog at www.azbackyardeden.blogspot.com
She is a master gardener and her backyard is 
 incredible. 


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God's Employee

Ann Vallotton was a Swiss artist who died in December, 2013, at the age of 98. She is relatively unknown but has been called the most widely sold artist of all time. That’s because she created 500 illustrations for The Good News Bible which sold 225 million copies. This was one of the first of several translations written in everyday language, designed to make scripture understandable.

            The King James Version was the only Bible available in the Protestant Church up until the Twentieth Century and was difficult to understand because the “King’s English” represented the spoken word of the Elizabethan Age. Think Shakespeare, Folks. Thankfully, a handful of modern translations appeared. What a treat to be able to read such an important book and understand it.

            The American Bible Society commissioned a group of translators to take on the daunting task of creating The Good News Bible and in 1966 The New Testament portion was published. In 1971 a consultant from the British and Foreign Bible Society added his expertise to the American team, resulting in a translation of the Old Testament along with the fourth edition of the New.

The Most Widely Sold Artist of All Time 

            Ann Vallotton’s simple line-drawn illustrations accompany the modern text beautifully. Her stick-figure drawings don’t interfere with the reading but rather support it in a subtle yet meaningful way. My favorite is the one accompanying Galatians 6: 2: “Help carry one another’s burdens.”

            Interestingly, nowhere is Ann Valloton’s name mentioned in the Preface or copyright page of the Good News Bible. She asked to remain anonymous. Her goal was to make people want to read the scriptures and her beautiful, simple drawings do just that. They are delightful and her humility is inspiring. She was a gifted artist who obviously used her ability to glorify God.

A Truly Humble Servant

            The lesson I take is the awesomeness of her humble spirit. She totally exemplifies the instructions given by Paul to the believers in Colosse:  “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as though you were working for the Lord and not for men. Remember that the Lord will give you as a reward what he has kept for his people. For Christ is the real Master you serve.” (Colossians 3: 23-24 – The Good News Bible translation)

            God gifted this amazing artist with insight and artistic ability and she used it to encourage people to read his Word. Likewise, God has gifted each of us and wants us to use our abilities to honor him and point others to him.

            Find a translation of The Good News Bible and look at Ann Vallotton’s illustrations. Enjoy browsing through them and let them touch your heart. Think about your own strengths and abilities. Are you letting God use them to help others? 

* * * * * * * * *

(Her illustrations don't show up in the online version of The Good News Bible, possibly because of copyright infringement. Instead, Google Ann Vallotton and you'll find her images. They are delightful and worth the search.)

(Information is from the Preface to The Good News Bible, Broadman Press, 1976 edition. Information on Ann Vallotton is from various online sites.)

Formula for Busy People

I would love to give you the gift of TIME 

Let me guess:

• you are stretched to the max
• you can’t possibly complete everything on your agenda
• parts of your life are in disorder
• you rarely feel caught up at work or at home

Modern men and women live exhaustive lives that revolve around the needs of many people; frequently, we try to do it all and do it all perfectly.

Technology, though essential and efficient, may add to the stress since a worker/friend/family member is expected to be on call 24/7 and respond to electronic messages immediately.

A successful CEO of a very large corporation recently suffered a physical breakdown because of too-long working days and too-little sleep at night. Once she recovered she instituted new rules for herself and those in her employ:  no one is expected to answer messages in the evenings or on weekends, unless they are on call.

What Does the Bible Say?

 

Paul wrote this in his letter to the Corinthian church to instruct them about orderly worship:  “For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.” (I Corinthians 14:33) I think these words can apply to our individual lives, as well. God desires us to live in an atmosphere of peace and order. How do we do that?

What Can I Do?

 

There’s no one solution to this dilemma but there are some practical steps that can help us deal with this age-old problem. Take what works for you and toss out the ideas that don’t suit your personality.

        Mission Statement – Write out a mission statement for yourself for the coming year. This idea is from Knit Together:  Discover God’s Pattern for Your Life by Debbie Macomber. (FaithWords 2008) Corporations and committees write mission statements why not you? Keep it short and direct. “What do I want as guiding philosophy for my life?” Powerful stuff.

        Priorities – List the things important or necessary at this phase of your life. Be sure to include leisure time for yourself. Every priority should support your mission statement.

        Goals – Under each priority list the goals you’d like to accomplish in that area in the next six months or year.

        Steps to accomplish your goals (optional) – If you’re a type A personality, jot down the steps needed to accomplish each goal. Skip it if you’re too busy!

Review your priorities and goals several times throughout the year to see if you’re on target or need to adjust. Perhaps something is unattainable at this time of your life. Is your life balanced? Check for gaps. Your priorities and goals will change as you walk through the various stages of your life and as your family or work dynamics change. Simplify where you can, delegate, and focus on what’s really important.

A Promise!  

 

Here’s the clincher:  a disciplined devotional life will help you find more time—really! Make reading the Bible and prayer a daily occurrence and your day will go more smoothly and efficiently. The busier I am, the more I need to do this. Pray over your mission statement, your priorities, and your goals. God will direct you and keep you focused.