Stairway to Heaven

This image immediately brought to mind stairway to heaven. Though I am certain that most people have heard this idiom used (Googling yielded over 15 million results), I would guess many do not know where it truly originated.

In the book of Genesis, while on a journey to find a wife, Jacob had a dream about a stairway that reached to heaven. In his dream, the Lord told Jacob that the land on which he slept would belong to him and his descendants. How awesome a dream to have! 

But not everyone has such vivid dreams. And that doesn't matter because God's word is filled with promises that God makes to people.

Read the bible and you will find a wealth of promises like blessings for wisdom or protection.

What's the catch? God wants us to believe in Him and truly seek Him out. He is all powerful. He wants to spend eternity with us. As the apostle John wrote "For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life".

God made the ultimate promise with the ultimate sacrifice, His only Son, Jesus. Personally, I can imagine how hard it is to lose a son. BUT God didn't just lose His Son, He gave His Son so that people could live. AND, His Son complied with His wishes because He wants people to be in heaven for eternity as well.

Wow, I don't know about you, but, just like the hike that brought me to this place, this image helps me to stay focused on the hope for salvation that I have through our Lord Jesus. I hope it does the same for you.

Pushing Up Daisies

Today's chronological reading plan found on esword, gives brief accounts of some kings of Judah and Israel. The thing that really strikes me is the violence and sinfulness found especially in verses 13-16 of 2 Kings 15. Menahem, assassinates Israel's king and succeeds his throne. From there, he ruthlessly attacks a city and the surrounding area. Since the people resist him, he rips open all of their pregnant women.

Pretty horrifying stuff! Not too much unlike the violence of society today.

In 2 Chronicles 26, King Uzziah of Judah did what was right in the eyes of the Lord and in the defense of his kingdom "he made in Jerusalem engines, invented by cunning men, to be on the towers and upon the bulwarks, to shoot arrows and great stones withal." The philosophy of technology undoubtedly offers up explanations for the development of weaponry but it overlooks the inherent sinful nature of mankind.

So many people are abhorred by the crimes in our present society. Yet, no one really talks about how it has been human nature to be sinful ever since the fall of man in the Garden of Eden. Adam and Eve's son Cain committed the first murder against his brother Abel and the bloodshed and misery continues.

The good news is that God loves us so much that Jesus died for our sins. Since the beginning of time, He has shown us His love through His created things like this lively field of daisies. But this patch of flowers is more then just pleasing to the eye. It is one of the many things in nature that attest not only the existence of God but also of the fact that there will be no excuse for mankind's sinfulness. Eventually, God will hold each and every person accountable.

I don't know the origin of the old idiom pushing up daisies. But what can be so bad about being underneath a beautiful site like this while resting in peace IF the next thing you know is that Jesus has returned for you !!

Baby Bird

Hahaha... I have to laugh because my son just sent a text with this image.

Of course, one can't deny how adorable these babies are... I can almost hear their little peeps calling "I'm hungry."

Beyond the obvious meaning of this image, I find a deeper, more resolute meaning. It is the understanding of life and the way that things are supposed to be. You see, my son just recently left our nest. He left our small town for the city not quite three weeks ago.

Lots of people have been asking me how I feel about that and if I miss him. Well, the answer is yes AND no.

I have really come to appreciate how much of a wonderful young man he has become. Thanks be to God! But, I don't miss him because I am so excited for the experiences he will have and the things he will learn. I believe that God has led him to where he is right now. Not to mention that I spent the last 18 years trying my best to prepare him for this time of his life. Time for him to spread his wings and soar.

My true sense of peace with him being gone comes from our Father in heaven. Jesus encouraged us to not worry in Matthew 6:25-27.

“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?"

So, knowing how much our Father in heaven cares for us helps to put things into perspective for me. After all, He sent his one and only Son to die for us. 

It's funny that I used to think that the reason I never saw the beauty of God's creation when I was young was because I am from the city. This image tells me that it wasn't where I grew up, it's that I had blinders on. 

What a blessing it is that my son is sharing some of what he sees.

Who Could've Known?

Who could've known? 

 The last time we were we. 

Image, burnt in my mind 

by flaming bridge for eternity. 

Who could've known? 

One last glimpse

would mean:

never again hearing 

laughter singing with brook,

never again seeing

sunshine paled by smiles

never again hiking

winding trails,

never again feeling

your loving embrace

never acknowledging

resemblances of your face

to the one we adored who is no more.

Who could've known?

Life could be so cruel

as to let love drown in a pool,

not of blood, but tears.

BUT, the sadness and trials of life will not prevail.
For the One who comforts knows of this and more.
All we need do is knock on the door
and it will be opened.
For He wants to comfort and take care of us.
He loves us so much that His Son died for us.

My hope is in Him.
Who could've known, that I would ever feel so loved.

The Perfect Gift

Whew!! Trying to avoid the crazy hustle and bustle of the busy holiday season can be difficult. During some last minute holiday preparations, I came across this empty gift jar. At one time it held delicious chocolates; they didn't last long!!

Most people have received gifts like this one. You know, the kind that are a nice gesture from someone you didn't really expect would give you a Christmas present.

Our materialistic society leads us to believe that a gift is not only necessary, but it must be reciprocated. Even though I appreciate the gesture, I would rather spend time visiting with the gift giver over a cup of tea or during a walk.

Giving of yourself is the best gift anyone could give.

In fact, Jesus modeled this same concept when He came to Earth: to spend time with man, to teach man all about love and His triune divinity, to bear the guilt of all of mankind on His shoulders, and to die a horrible death so that each person who believes Jesus is Lord might be saved.

So the next time you are searching for the perfect gift, think about the wonderful gift described by the Apostle John and remember the best gift comes from the heart filled with love.

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.