Election 2012

How I admire the people who have this display in their yard. Their bold statement speaks volumes not only of the wonderful gift of salvation through Jesus but also of the wonderful blessing it is to live in a country where we have freedom of expression.

Though at times we may disagree with other viewpoints, this right is one of the characteristics that defines the excellence of the United States.
However,  the current trend seems that in the effort to establish social identity, some groups inadvertently limit their members to fitting into their box instead. Why do any of us have to be categorized in that manner. Though it human nature to make sense of the world around us, why can't a person be measured by merit alone?

This country was founded on the precept that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.  Sadly, many people do not agree with our forefathers. The hegemony of American pop culture has led to the redefinition of core values that the founding fathers lived by. The result is that in an effort to establish that which is already an American right, other people are categorized and scrutinized.
Regardless of the results of tonight's 2012 elections, I pray for the continuance of freedom of expression.  

A Mother's Love

 A mother's love can never be vanquished

 for it is sustained by a lifetime of special memories that rekindle the warmth in her heart.

The joyous trepidation of the first time she cradled him in her arms.
The sense of purpose she gained from soothing his newborn cries. 
The courageous heart she mustered to chase away his night time fears.
The squeamish excitement of holding the worm he dug up to show her.
The terror she felt when he momentarily slipped out of her sight in a crowded place.
The anticipation of reading his favorite bedtime story again.
The exhilaration from the first bouquet of dandelions he picked for her.
The uncertainty of the first time she let him ride away on his bike.

These fleeting moments are a gift from God. A treasure stored up over a lifetime in a mother's heart. For a mother's love is constant and unconditional.  

A mother's love is forever.

The Eyes Have It

I started off this week feeling very alone. It all started Monday morning when I woke up only to the reality that Yep, today is Monday and my hubby is gone off to work out of town for the next 5 days. You would think that after 2 years, I would have adjusted to this situation. I thought about all of the things that I miss about him: his kind and loving eyes, his goofy sense of humor, his commitment to trying to improve our family life, his warm and loving embrace. Then, a thought came to me.

Well yeah.... of course you miss him that much and more.... you miss him cuz he is part of you.... you two were meant to be.

Then I began to think about the first couple that God so divinely matched. The book of Genesis not only tells the story of creation, but it tells of the significance of the first couple's relationship,  "and they become one flesh".

Wow, what an eye opener for me.... you see this is not the first time that my beloved and I have been forced to live apart. Funny though, the separation early in our relationship caused more emotional distance between us than the actual miles that separated us. Now, after more than 20 years, the distance has made us realize all the more how much we love each other.

I finally see us for who we are and (even more important) why God brought the two of us together. The road we have taken through life has had many twists and turns, quite a few potholes, and even some construction detours. The difference now is that we have become one. It doesn't matter whether we travel together or temporarily apart, we are heading to the same place. 

When we met, one of the first things that drew me toward my hubby was the kindness in his eyes. Now when I look into my hubby's eyes, I see all of the laughter and tears, joy and sorrow, love and understanding that we have shared over the years. When I look into his eyes, I can see that we see each other for who and what we are. We are one and that's what God wanted.

I thank God for my hubby. I will never grow tired of gazing into his loving eyes.

My Choice

This image almost portrays the way I have been feeling lately. I am not quite sure if it is just because I am missing my hubby so much, or if it is just because sometimes I feel so far from home.

But life is what you make of it.

I can choose to feel all alone on the swing. Or I can swing away. I can quietly enjoy the peacefulness by the shore. Or I can jump into the water and splash up some fun. I can bemoan the fact that the sun is hiding behind the clouds. Or I can anticipate getting caught in a refreshing spring rain. Whatever, comes my way, it is my choice how I am going to think and feel about it.

So I choose to follow the apostle Paul's advice to be happy in all situations because that's what God would want me to do.

SNOWED IN

Last week, this was what I was greeted with one day when I came home from work. The snow mound left from the township plow made my driveway impassable. It made me think of life and how problems can add up to make life seem impassable.

Sometimes problems seem to pile up and up until there is a seemingly hopeless mound of troubles. Instinctively, I try to solve problems on my own with the same results that I would get if I took a shovel and tried to move this mound of snow.
Then, I surmise I got this just like when I jump into our ancient truck with the manual transmission and haphazardly move the snow just enough to get in and out of the drive. I imagine this quick fix must make God chuckle. My efforts are about as effective as a bandaid on a gaping wound.
The really awesome thing is what happens next when I realize DUH, why am I trying to do this on my own? Just like the apostle Peter proclaimed in I Peter, I need to cast all of my anxieties and worries on Jesus because He cares for me. Once I seek out God's help and guidance, things fall into place so much easier AND He carries all of that stress and worry for me. For that, I am so thankful! Kind of like the thankfulness I feel when my husband comes home and expertly plows our yard.

The Gift of Solace

My preoccupation with this place has become quite dialectic.
Snow, snow, snow... winter seems so long especially when a major snowstorm drops another foot of snow in the end of February. This makes me dream of longer, warmer days.... which makes me think of this place.

Then, I feel guilty for looking forward to going there because of a recent tragedy... it troubles my thoughts ... my heart goes out to those involved.

BUT, this bridge is a gateway to one of my favorite spots in the world... a place characterized by: the soothing sounds of the babbling creek, the welcoming splashes of colorful wildflowers, and the beckoning call of a rugged trail of soil, roots, and rocks.... this place of solace... somewhere to go to feel closer to God.

So, I reason that God knows the pain and struggles that every person endures.... He understands when no one else can because He loves us dearly... so much that He gave His one and only Son.

The point I make is that God is kind and loving. He knows and understands the struggles we face. He allows people and situations in our lives so that we can learn. So just like Paul encouraged the Galatians, I will pray that God may enable me to fulfill every good deed prompted by faith.

And... from now on, whenever I go to my favorite place, I will feel encouraged... I will say a prayer for that family and for any others that I know who need encouragement as well.

Til Death Do Us Part

This colorful silhouette emanates the love of this newlywed couple. Whenever I see a couple made for each other like these two, it makes me so thankful that we have a loving God who knew exactly what He was doing when He created man and woman. It also causes me to ponder the meaning of life and love. Jesus actually says quite a lot about the subject in Matthew 19:3-12 where He talks about marriage, sexuality, and divorce.
I became familiar with this passage years ago when I was wrestling with the guilt of a failed first marriage. God knew long before I even got married that my marriage wouldn't last. This is one of the reasons why Jesus suffered on my account. Many years later, God has blessed me with a longstanding marriage to a man I definitely do not deserve. Am I grateful? You bet! Do I have guilty feelings over the past? Nope, not anymore because I know that God has forgiven me for all of my mistakes. As God promises in Romans 8, there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Archenemy?

I have to laugh because, as this photo collage shows, my pets are so cute. I am convinced that when God gave us charge over the animals (see Genesis 1:26), He knew how much joy we would get when we took some as pets.
My cat and dog are best buds. They eat food together, wrestle each other, and cuddle up together. If you ask around, this is quite common among these historic archenemies. So why is the notion so prevalent?
One reason could be that the media is a system that pumps such fallacies into society via television, music, and movies. One famous line about dogs and cats was made by Bill Murray in a Ghostbusters movie. In this scene, Murray equates "dogs and cats living together" with the "mass hysteria" of the end of the world. HaHaHa .... well, it makes for good box office sales.

The point is that the media spoon feeds us and we gobble up whatever is dished out without questioning validity. The bible sheds light on a lot of popular truths. I began questioning these truths the day I read what the bible has to say about Jesus' return. There are so many instances where my eyes have been opened. As Jesus promised in Matthew 7 "Seek and you will find".

So for now, I will enjoy the pleasant company of my pets while I look forward to the peaceful heaven that the prophet Isaiah spoke of in chapter 65:25:

The wolf and the lamb will feed together,

   and the lion will eat straw like the ox,
   and dust will be the serpent’s food.
They will neither harm nor destroy
   on all my holy mountain,”
says the LORD.

Someday, the real archenemy, Satan will be defeated and the Prince of Peace will reign in heaven.

Danger!

A recent trip through Munising, MI afforded me a new perspective on life.  The trip helped me to realize the great sacrifices my husband makes so that our family can be stable. It makes me admire him more than words could say! 

Through our marriage, the road we have been on has been rocky to say the least. On this particular day, the bitter, cold wind unsuccessfully tried to pry the camera from my hands making this image from the Lake Superior shore even more representative of our life.
On our journey together, it has not always been clear which path is the best or which situation is dangerous. In this scene, it is pretty evident that these waters are treacherous. But what would it be like on a calm day? The water might be deceivingly inviting. And even though the sign warns of a wicked undercurrent, that may not suffice to avoid trouble. Sometimes we have heeded the warning. Other times we have ignored it. Yet other times we have completely missed the sign. 

Life is not easy nor does each day come with a set of instructions. But there is a guide that can help to make each day navigable. God's Word provides all the guidance a person could need to navigate the calm and stormy waters of life. Just like the Psalmist proclaimed "Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." My prayer is that each day, my husband and I will seek God's will in our lives.