Care

CARE.

Caution inhibiting

Anxiousness debilitating 

Reservation vacilating 

Expectation diminishing

The cares of this life will choke out His word's affect in our hearts. How do we keep daily cares that seem to come so often from having this “choking affect” on our hearts? How can our Father's words do their wonderful work so that the roots of our faith can grow deep in His love?

“Come” is what came to my mind.

Chorus of praise.

Open heart.

Minding His affections.

Entering His presence.


Stress steals our Solace...
Trust takes us to His Care.

“This deliverance of soul from all useless, selfish and unquiet cares, brings to it an unspeakable peace and freedom. This is true simplicity. This state of entire resignation and perpetual acquiescence produces true liberty; and this liberty brings perfect simplicity. The soul which knows no self-seeking, no interested ends, is thoroughly candid. It goes straight forward without hindrance. Its path opens daily more and more to 'perfect day,' in proportion as its self-renunciation and its self-forgetfulness increase. And its peace, amid whatever troubles beset it will be as boundless as the depths of the sea. ~Fenelon

Embracing, Enduring and Enjoying

Always Embracing,

Assured in Enduring,

Afterward Enjoying.

"Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience.  But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be (people) perfectly and fully developed (with no defects), lacking in nothing." James 1:2-4 ampl.

The END of any matter, 

where Christ is our Focus, 

will lead to a quiet mature JOY.  

A settled heart.

The beginning is a choice
 to enter into all that is given
 to me this day.  

And for those who understand the YOKE of Christ, plowing in HOPE is the longer part of this process of growth in our lives. His YOKE is only light and easy for those who stay under it.  It is when we get outside of His yoke, we experience what labor is without HIM, 

unproductive and

 without LIFE. 

This is where endurance, steadfastness and patience must have their full play. 

My definition of embracing is:  

Holding on to HIM 

until His work is done,

 in my Heart. 

Enduring: Hoping During this process.  

Enjoying:  Pure fellowship in His presence...the way He always intended.

"It has been well said that no man ever sank under the burden of the day.  It is when to-morrow's burden is added to the burden of to-day that the weight is more than a man can bear.  Never load yourselves so, my friends.  If you find yourselves so loaded, at least remember this:  it is your own doing, not God's.  He begs you to leave the future to Him, and mind the present.  ~G. MacDonald

“While reason is puzzling itself about mystery, faith is turning it to daily bread, and feeding on it thankfully in her heart of hearts.” ~Frederic Dan Huntington

Faithfulness

The test of the life of a saint is not success, but faithfulness in human life as it actually is. ~Oswald Chambers

“An occasional effort, even of an ordinary holiness, may accomplish great acts of sacrifice...Constant discipline in unnoticed ways, and the spirit's silent unselfishness, becoming the hidden habit of the life, give to it its true saintly beauty, and this is the result of care and lowly love in little things. Perfection is attained most readily by this constancy of religious faithfulness in all minor details of life, consecrating the daily efforts 
of self-forgetting love.” 

~T.T. Carter

Selfless savior 

Murmurless master 

Simply a servant 

Lovingly last 

Father’s faithful 

Generous giver 

Only for others 

Always alive 

Always alive 

Always asking 

Hoping and seeking 

Vessels to break 

Vessels to fill 

Fruit to abide

~Joe Garrity

JOY made Simple

"Did Pete cry?  Goodness, no!  Buttons come and buttons go.  He kept on singing his song:..."

A child understands this powerful present joy of what is given to them....NOW.  Not what was, or what will be...but what is right before them.  They do not measure loss, the way we do, because their world is smaller, and trust comes easy.

Yes, sometimes their world can be self-focused, and their NOW becomes their present WANT (just like us;) but we can learn with them (and Pete the Cat ) to count what we have, as enough.   

And the songs that will have the greatest meaning, most often come from understanding loss is temporary, and gratitude changes our heart. 
 "In HIS presence, is fullness of JOY." Ps. 16:11   (Ps. 77:6; Act 16:25)

"Gratitude turns what we have into enough, and more.  It turns denial into acceptance, chaos into order, confusion into clarity...it makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow."

"In everything give thanks, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 1 Thes. 5:18

Above is a picture of Alan reading Pete the Cat to our grandchildren.  

We had just moved to S. A. and all the children came to see us.  At that time, we had only 4 grand children, and now the present count is 13.

Fast Living

Our great Aunt Amy shared some wisdom as we sat on the couch near my great grandmother’s coffin.

 I had just observed the rising death rate of people in the 20^th century.

Her response spoke volumes…

“They live too fast”

“How do you live slower?” I asked.

“Well... You enjoy what you have…

You work hard, a

nd you don’t get excited about things that aren’t exciting…

I laughed and hugged her tight. 

In order to live to our fullest-

We must tune our hearts to a different beat, 

match our stride to a different march.  

Who cares how it looks to the world...

It's His eyes we want to capture.

(Thought above from Whitney)

Happy New Years, my friends. I am praying that this would be my heart for the coming year.   Living before An Audience of ONE.

The Art of Anticipation

 One of the meanings found for anticipation is “Foretaste; previous view or impression of what is to happen afterward; as, the anticipation of the joys of heaven”. Anticipation is a present hope for what is to come. Its presence adds a bounce to our steps or gives the present moment a lift. It is like the aroma of food to the hungry. Anticipation is an attitude of heart of the one looking ahead in hope. It adds beauty and warmth to a home, whereas the cares of this life take them away. There is an art to learning how to change the ordinary, common task into something we look forward to. If we learn to anticipate each day as a gift that must be unwrapped, and willingly receive whatever it might hold, we will be graced with more treasures in learning than we could ever imagine. This does not guarantee that all will be easy, only that all is designed to work His good in us. If I anticipate a good meal, and find one that is overcooked, even then I still come away from this experience learning something.

The reason anticipation is an art is because it is not automatic. It takes work. Those who learn the artistry of it will eat its fruits. The anticipation I’m referring to is one that will produce hope for others, not expectations from them. Many a marriage suffers for the lack of it, and what was first love becomes lost. They lost it, because they were looking for how love should serve them, instead of serving from the overflowing love of Christ. Anticipation that walks with hope is never disappointed because it is the secret treasure of living by giving. God has prepared a feast of learning before us, and as we taste of His faithfulness, anticipation will become as natural as breathing and eating.

Grow Heart Grow

 

E. Stanley Jones speaks of the difference between "Thronging or Touching? when speaking of the woman with the issue of blood.  "If I were only to touch him, I would be healed" The disciples only saw the throngs of people, but Jesus felt her touch. He goes on to write, "Sunday after Sunday the multitudes go to church and listen.  Their thoughts throng Jesus.  But how many of the thronging multitudes really touch Him, set up a connection with Him, and live by Him?  How many touch Him so that they go away not merely better, but well?"

We have been influenced to believe that LOVE, is what we give and take. The crowds wanted without wonder, would take from HIM without touching They looked for Him, without longing.   They were inspired by what he said and did, but unlike the woman who threw herself against the crowd, just to touch his garment, she was changed.  Have we considered how different our relationships would be, if we, like her, experienced the transformation of His touch.

This would change our relationships, from expecting them to meet our needs, to pouring out love from a filled heart.  This kind of love takes the stretching of our hearts, to be filled up with His love.  Stretching that sometimes means laying down our own expectations.  The Love of God shed abroad in our hearts, looks very much like Paul's description of love in 1 Cor. 13 

Growing hearts IN HIS LOVE means Guarding them, too.  Max Lucado says it well in, Grace Moments:

Guard the Gateway

“The devil, your enemy, goes around like a roaring lion looking for someone to eat. Refuse to give in to him, by standing strong in your faith.” 1 Peter 5:8-9

You've got to admit, some of our hearts are trashed out. Let any riffraff knock on the door, and we throw it open. Anger shows up, and we let him in. Revenge needs a place to stay, so we have him pull up a chair. Pity wants to have a party; so we show him the kitchen. Lust rings the bell, and we change the sheets on the bed. Don't we know how to say no?

Many don't. For most of us, though management is, well, unthought of. We think much about time management, weight management, personal management, even scalp management. But what about thought management? Shouldn't we be as concerned about managing our thoughts as we are managing anything else? Jesus was. Like a trained soldier at the gate of a city, he stood watch over his mind. He stubbornly guarded the gate way of his heart....

If he did, shouldn't we...”

Painful Joy

Painful Joy. This was the expression I saw on Anna’s face as she awkwardly clutched the chains of the swing, as I pushed her into the wind. Her one hand gripping the chain, while the other arm was wrapped around half touching the other chain. She was not fully aware of the correct way to feel secure—but oh the joy, to feel the push. She started to laugh so hard that sound stopped coming out, and it was then I saw a look that could have passed for pain. It is a mixture of both fear and pleasure. This painful joy state is not uncommon for those of us who have special needs children. Our children can become over simulated by the simplest things. It’s like happiness without the benefit of full understanding. While others watch the joy of it, we are aware of the pain. It’s a stimulus that has no shut off regulator, and we become responsible for the pacing of it.

Anna’s spontaneous laughter flows often lacking understanding. We smile and laugh with her, but its superficial. Sometimes we stand as a silent witness, as others look for understanding, wanting to simulate her more, because everyone loves laughter. Quietly we wait, and in the moments when all have gone, we offer her something much more valuable than fleeting fun; Commitment. Sorrow has presented to us opportunity to learn lessons of commitment that only come in the trenches. There is one thing I’ve learned in these places, and that is very few can walk with you in them. Laughter and Joy take on a much deeper meaning, because sorrow has plowed deep. You see beyond the surface, and do not always feel like the answers are necessary for going on.

It’s nice to be on the playground now and then, but I wouldn’t want to live there. Laughter works like a medicine, but pain carries with it the enduring quality of patience. Anna’s uncontrolled laughter is a reminder of how everything is not as it appears. I stop the swing and calm her and the significant of our day at the park will be more about my presence with her, than what we did. A.B. Simpson expresses beautifully the fruit of painful joy in this way, “There is a shallow, superficial nature, that gets hold of a theory or a promise lightly, and talks very glibly about the distrust of those who shrink from every trial; but the man or woman who has suffered much never does this, but is very tender and gentle, and knows what suffering really means. This is what Paul meant when he said, ‘Death worketh in you.’”

We can not separate ourselves from the shallow things of life. There presence with us points us to the painful things we can not change. How we respond to them, is more important for the present, than finding answers. I will continue to push my daughter on the swing, because these simple exercises of play show my other children that we choose to participate in LIFE, even though life does not always give us back an equal return for our efforts. We are learning that commitment has a price, and it will not be supported by anything less than Faith. This painful joy must have been what Paul also experienced in this life when he wrote;

“As sorrowful, yet always rejoicing, as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things.” 2 Co 6:10

We will go as far in our faith, as we seek to want more than what we see with our eyes, hear with our ears, or touch with our hands. Anna offers this gift daily to us. In her non-verbal way she shouts, “I believe and trust you!” Her only requirement is our nearness. Does my own heart say this to my Heavenly Father, even in the midst of troubles and trials? When swung into the air of unexpected circumstances can I rest in my heart in the faithfulness of the One whose pushing my swing?

Anna will be turning 25 years old soon, and when most young ladies are growing in understanding and maturity, learning how to handle the complexities of this life. Anna could probably be seen at our near by park, being pushed on a swing, simply holding on tight in rapturous joy. Her mother is coming to appreciate the beauty of this painful joy and this keeps her pushing, while resting in His love.

Sleeping in the Storms

“And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. And his disciples came to him and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish. And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. But the men marveled, saying, ‘What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him!’” Matt. 8:24-27

There is a faith we can have that allows us to meet each storm in our lives with a confidence and calm that expresses itself in a life of spiritual REST. But like the disciples who cry out to Jesus (as he slept) “Lord save us: we perish”, we too hear from our waking savior, not words of comfort, but rebuke, “Oh Ye of little Faith.”

The very One who created life, nature, and man, was close enough to touch, so why this reaction to the storm? Why the panic? What is it about trials, sorrows, and storms that draw out these reactions even though we know God is in control? I’ve observed this in many of my peers and I’ve seen this in myself that this lack of living in the REST of God is often commonly summoned up in three simple words; “Don’t you care?” However, the root issue has more to do with saving self, than trusting God. Jesus went straight to the heart of the matter. He saw through the “Don’t you love us, Lord” issue, to ways we are hindered from going on in our spiritual lives. There are three areas of lack I’ve discovered (from my own falling and finding out:) that point to hindrances of walking by faith.

PRIDE takes on all kinds of forms, but in conflict it can dress itself in depression or defeat. In some ways, those who live in these attributes of pride might very well be sleeping right along with Jesus in the boat, because they have checked out. “A storm? Wake me up when it’s over!” They don’t care, and this form of SELF-PERSERVATION calls out for God to make their world better. Often in conflict and struggles this is the first area that our Heavenly Father touches. J.I. Packer expresses it this way, “ Not until we have become humble and teachable, standing in awe of God's holiness and sovereignty... acknowledging our own littleness, distrusting our own thoughts, and willing to have our minds turned upside down, can divine wisdom become ours.”
Denying SELF, is the first step to understanding true life and freedom in Christ. SAVING SELF was much more on the disciple’s minds than riding out the storm. Corrie Ten Boon says “If a bird is flying for pleasure, it flies with the wind, but if it meets danger it turns and faces the wind, in order that it may fly higher.” Resentment of conflicts will eventually cause the very things you fear the most to destroy you in the end. The bird knows to use the same winds that beat against its chest, to rise above the danger. These storms are designed to take us to His higher, safer destinations.

CONTROL is another chief contributor to our lack of REST. Its expressions are often anxiousness and fretting. No one is allowed to sleep when we are operating in this spirit. We deceive ourselves into believing we need or want something enough that we must wake up our Lord to inform Him. This type of control is similar to the waves of the sea. It reflects a life of one who has continual up and down experiences. They think that what they want is answers, but their true motives are merely peace without conflict. If they can’t command the storm to stop, they look to manipulate the one who can. C.S. Lewis describes it in this way, “We are not necessarily doubting that God will do the best for us; we are wondering how painful the best will turn out to be.” Their self-serving prayers are aimed to be delivered from the discomfort instead of learning endurance in the conflict. This is so foundational in how our own children learn to approach life and understand the love of God. Jesus stopped the storm, not for their comfort, but to expose their unbelief. Many families wonder why their older children do not have more depth, while failing to see that following Christ always has a cost. Do we want our children to be happy, or to take up their cross? Those who grow in faith will allow the conflicts to draw them closer to a deeper understanding of the love of God and His purposes: which are to conform us into Christ’s image.

LACK OF VISION is another reason we rage at the coming waves. We are too prone to trust in our feelings and eyesight. Our emotions become our reality and we fail to see that goodness and mercy are always following close behind. This place of REST (seen in a believer’s life) is a marvel to the world. How can this man sleep, in such a storm? People who lack vision only go as far as they see naturally. Their lives are limited, and you are more apt to see them isolated, safe on the shore, and going nowhere. They have been on that boat, and because they blame others for their own lack of progress, they are not getting on that boat again! Faith was needed to continue, but all they remember is the rough ride. At this juncture, the Father proved their heart, as He did his disciples: it was about them, not HIM. Oswald Chambers sums up the disciples dilemma of faith in this way;

“Our trust is in God up to a certain point, then we go back to the elementary panic prayers of those who do not know God. We get to our wits' end, showing that we have not the slightest confidence in Him and His government of the world; He seems to be asleep, and we see nothing but breakers ahead. "0 ye of little faith!" What a pang must have shot through the disciples - 'Missed it again!' And what a pang will go through us when we suddenly realize that we might have produced down right joy in the heart of Jesus by remaining absolutely confident in Him, no matter what was ahead.

In His presence is fullest of joy. The original meaning of joy here is calm delight. It’s a trust that is mature and settled in heart. It is not shaken by what may seem like chaos in the world. It stands firm, and allows the waves to wash over rather than knock down, knowing that all things work together for them who love God and are called according to His purpose. Those who have come to know this calm delight, have been with Jesus, and are not threatened when He seems silent. They have learned to put their confidence in “things (Him) not seen, but eternal!”

"When thou passest through the waters"
Deep the waves may be and cold,
But Jehovah is our refuge,
And His promise is our hold;
For the Lord Himself hath said it,
He, the faithful God and true:
"When thou comest to the waters

Thou shalt not go down, But through."

Seas of sorrow, seas of trial,
Bitterest anguish, fiercest pain,
Rolling surges of temptation
Sweeping over heart and brain
They shall never overflow us
For we know His word is true;
All His waves and all His billows
He will lead us safely through.

Threatening breakers of destruction,
Doubt's insidious undertow,
Shall not sink us, shall not drag us
Out to ocean depths of woe;
For His promise shall sustain us,
Praise the Lord, whose Word is true!
We shall not go down, or under,
For He saith, "Thou passest through."
--Annie Johnson Flint

Pictured above Wind Torn

God is Working

God is working

I am waiting

Hope is born

Anticipating

God is working

I am waiting

 in my soul

His life creating

God is working

I am waiting

peace is born

 pride is breaking

God is working

I am waiting

His promise true

Invigorating

~Anonymous

God has wisely kept us in the dark concerning future events and reserved for himself the knowledge of them, that he may train us up in a dependence upon himself and a continued readiness for every event. 
~Matthew Henry

There are always uncertainties ahead, but there is always one certainty--God's will is good. ~Vernon Paterson 

Hope is patiently waiting expectantly for the intangible to become reality. ~Avery D. Miller 

Cultivating Faith or Feeding Doubt

“Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it. For unto us was the gospel preached, as wellas unto them; but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.” Heb. 4: 1, 2

The people of God stood at the brink of entering into a land that promised the rest that they had longed for. Gardens already planted and houses ready for their dwelling.

As a mother with children standing by her side, having traveled in barren lands, today held something more than a longing! Stability, food other than manna, water always available, grass instead of dirt, etc.

Did that young mother realized that she was one more doubt away from losing it all? Did she understand that her walk through the desert was a test to strengthen faith for this very day. The Israelites lack of faith to enter into the promise land started back at the Red Sea, and continued each test they met along the way.

They practiced doubt, and the habit of it became so much a part of their lives, that when the ultimate test came they were blinded from seeing the goodness and grace that God was offering them.

We must be very careful not to underestimate the power of doubt, in every little test we face.

“Today if you hear his voice, 
harden not your hearts.”

Each new day holds the challenge of cultivating faith or feeding doubt. One leads to rest, and seeing the goodness of God, the other leaves us standing there, watching others enter in.

Faith is the mother of virtues. Faith is the fire which consumes sacrifice. Faith is the water which nurtures the root of piety. If you have not faith, all your graces must die. And in proportion as your faith increases, so will all your virtues be strengthened, not all in the same proportion, but all in some degree. ~Charles H. Spurgeon

"To one who has faith, no explanation is necessary. To one without faith, no explanation is possible." ~Thomas Aquinas

"The only way to learn strong faith is to endure great trials." ~George Muller

Little Steps

Little steps could very well represent major crossroads in our lives.

Anna took her first steps at six years old (with the aide of a walker). Alan, I and several friends witness the event with tears and cheers.

Some time after that event, I saw a beautiful word picture expressing the importance of these little steps. I saw people in the gym who saw a 6 year old that looked normal, doing something that showed to them a little girl with great need.

Those who knew Anna, and how far she had come from saw the same steps taken, as great strives, and the beginning of more progress to come.

I saw my self holding tight to my walker taking the next step that my Father was telling me to take, hearing Him cheering me on, 

“YES, daughter, that's it!”

It was then, I realized how I lose something very precious, when I stand like those who look on from the outside without understanding, at how very significant these steps are.

Whether I find myself behind the walker straining to take the next step, or on the side lines, cheering others on, may I never lose sight, that obeying my Father's call is the key to reaching His mission for my life, however small that step may appear.

"We have come to share in Christ if we hold firmly till the end the confidence we had at first." 

Hebrews 3:14

Anna turns 34 years old.  I was 34 years old, when she took these first steps.   Don't underestimate the power of the little steps you take, each day.  Keep your eyes on the One leading you, and you will find, with each step, you are no longer the same person, then when you started out on this journey.   

Above: Anna with my Dad...around the time period she began to start walking on her own.

Reactions make the Differences

Reactions make the Difference

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?...No, in all theses things we are more than conquerors through him who loved. us. (Rom. 8:35, 37)

A young army officer said: “Weather, in war, is always favorable, if you know how to use it.” That is the point---if you know how to use it. The fact is that everything that comes to you in life is favorable, if you know how to react. (Everything, that is, except for your own personal sin, which is never favorable; its results are always evil. But even then, God can help you use your sins, if forgiven and conquered, to help others in their moral battles.)

Life is determined perhaps more by reactions than by actions. It comes to you on its own; it forces situations upon you without your asking. What counts is your reaction. You can react in self-pity and frustration. Or you can react with confidence and courage. You can make the evil thing make you better. Its origin may have been evil, but by the time you get through with it, the destination is good---you have turned evil into good.

A woman of culture surrendered herself to God, only to have troubles pile in upon her; Her husband became less and less responsive, while her daughter, a brilliant girl, went into a mental hospital. The woman brought them both back through her marvelous spirit. The daughter, restored by her mother's love and faith, said: “Everything has fallen unto you. You get over one thing, and then it's another. But you sit there and smile. You're wonderful.”

In fact, she is, “Nothing hurts me now,” she says in summary. “I have power to come back from anything.” Her reactions have made all kinds of weather serve her.

Edwin Markham, the poet, said that “sorrow stretches our hearts for joy.” It does, and more---it stretches our hearts for new achievements, new usefulness. Sorrow plows the field for God's sowing and our harvest.

I thank you, O Christ, that I can be saved from all self-pity and frustration. I choose to react in Your way to whatever comes. I am unafraid. Amen.

Taken from E. Stanley Jones' The Way / 365 Daily Meditations

"Coming to this place, fires will bring out the sweet aroma of Christ.  We will not come out of them smelling like smoke, but seeing HIM more clearly."

Picture taken by Madison Berkemeyer

What we call the process, God calls the end...

And straightway He constrained His disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side.… — Mark 6:45-52

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     We are apt to imagine that if Jesus Christ constrains us, and we obey Him, He will lead us to great success. We must never put our dreams of success as God’s purpose for us; His purpose may be exactly the opposite. We have an idea that God is leading us to a particular end, a desired goal; He is not. The question of getting to a particular end is a mere incident. What we call the process, God calls the end.
     What is my dream of God’s purpose? His purpose is that I depend on Him and on His power now. If I can stay in the middle of the turmoil calm and unperplexed, that is the end of the purpose of God. God is not working towards a particular finish; His end is the process — that I see Him walking on the waves, no shore in sight, no success, no goal, just the absolute certainty that it is all right because I see Him walking on the sea. It is the process, not the end, which is glorifying to God.
     God’s training is for now, not presently. His purpose is for this minute, not for something in the future. We have nothing to do with the afterwards of obedience; we get wrong when we think of the afterwards. What men call training and preparation, God calls the end.
     God’s end is to enable me to see that He can walk on the chaos of my life just now. If we have a further end in view, we do not pay sufficient attention to the immediate present; if we realize that obedience is the end, then each moment as it comes is precious.

Wisdom From Oswald Chambers

Rubenstein, the great musician, once said, "If I omit practice one day, I notice it; if two days, my friends notice it; if three days, the public notice it." It is the old doctrine, "Practice makes perfect." We must continue believing, continue praying, continue doing His will. Suppose along any line of art, one should cease practicing, we know what the result would be. If we would only use the same quality of common sense in our religion that we use in our everyday life, we should go on to perfection.

The motto of David Livingstone was in these words, "I determined never to stop until I had come to the end and achieved my purpose." By unfaltering persistence and faith in God he conquered.

Todays Stream in the Desert; Jan 19

Purpose of Heart or Plan at Hand

When the purpose of the heart becomes more than just getting the job done, it's a wonderful thing to watch in our children.  

I will never forget the time Joseph went to feed the chickens. It was taking a little longer, so I looked outside, and what I saw brought a smile to my face. Four or more hens staring up at him through the fence, as he wiggled his body,  bobbed his head, flapped his arms, and made some type of sound that I'm sure he thought they understood.  Well they sure were as fascinated with him as I was – (or maybe just waiting for him to throw more food.)  

This simple act of childhood innocence in seeking to do more than feed, to care... reminded me of his name sake.


While serving his fellow prisoners and seeing their needs – Joseph stops and inquires because their continence is down.  This one caring question starts a tide of events that will forever change his life.  His insight arose from having a purpose of heart deeper than a near-sighted focus of accomplishing the plan at hand.

There is a BIG difference between the two and time will reveal which one we are living for. When the deeper purpose of heart is to please our Father – our steps are measured accordingly. The overflow of this will impact our relationship with others. 

Disappointments/interruptions/misunderstandings will all begin to fit like a glove, because whether it's a prison or palace – His presence and His pleasure are all that matters.


The plan at hand – is nearsighted, looking only to find fulfillment in it the present moment;  without the interference of man. It rarely looks for anything outside of the obvious, so many opportunities
to experience His presence and bring Him pleasure are missed. This is a very difficult way to live – because control always comes at a high price -seeking foremost what is in our HAND rather than His plan.


Memories of Joseph's chicken dance remind me that – a heart that serves in love, can not help but share itself with others.


“You can give without loving; BUT you can not love without giving. ~Amy Carmichael

Take your seat, and Look to ME

 

I place Anna in the “Caroline” shopping cart for Special Needs adults.  The chair is designed so that she sits facing me and I buckle her in.  We begin our shopping. Whoever created this chair, understands my girl! You see facing away from me means Anna will look at everyone and everything else and whatever Anna sees, that’s what she wants.  Someone makes eye contact with her, and she smiles and reaches for them.  Shopping while trying to keep Anna from grabbing people does not help me get my job done.  Sometimes it stops it altogether!

We are not all that different from her; we have our own special needs.  We easily get overstimulated, wanting things that we really do not need.  Our focus naturally turns towards others when comparing ourselves to each other.   We tend to look to physical relationships to meet our emotional needs, instead of going to the ONE who desires our direct attention. We end up doing a lot of nothing and feel lacking even though all we need God provides. When will we learn that true living is found in Christ, not in the things we place in our cart?   We need to sit more often in our own “Caroline Cart”, face to face with Jesus.

I hear my Heavenly Father say, turn around and take your seat. Face me and Focus. We will get a lot more done, when you begin to turn your eyes to ME.  All the things you think you want, are not what you need right now.  Find that place of gratitude and contentment right where you are.   And at the end of the day, a task that would have been a pain, can become a treasured moment by simply focusing on HIM. 

"You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You." Is 26:3-4

"God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.” John Piper

"And He raised us up together with Him [when we believed], and seated us with Him in the heavenly places, [because we are] in Christ Jesus, and He did this] so that in the ages to come He might [clearly] show the immeasurable and unsurpassed riches of His grace in [His] kindness toward us in Christ Jesus [by providing for our redemption]." Eph 2:6,7

Rooted and Established

As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk (regulate your lives and conduct yourselves) in union with and conformity to Him.  Have the roots (of your being) firmly and deeply planted (in Him, fixed and founded in Him), being continually built up in Him, becoming increasingly more confirmed and established in the faith, just as you were taught, and abounding and overflowing in it with thanksgiving." Col. 2:6,7 Ampl.

The business of being built up and rooted in Him, often happens in the hidden places of our heart.  It comes in our day-by-day duties, that are not seen by men, but are known by God.  Our encounter of the difficult, and mundane teaches us to walk by faith, and not by what we see or feel.  Do not underestimate, the small and simple steps, of going forward, when you would rather "check out".  Sometimes it is stepping out on the other side of our self, that opens our eyes to seeing the beauty that was right in front of us. Walking by faith, grounds us in the eternal, and gives life to our weary souls.  

"Now, if we talk about lives God blesses, then or now, we're headed for trouble if we stay at the surface of personality and activity.  Blessing rarely seems tied to things that are visible.  Remain there, and I'm not sure we'll learn a thing that will be helpful.......If you want to think through the subject of the life God blesses, go then to the soul, to the deepest parts of "inner space" where God is most likely to visit with a person, whisper His secrets, establish convictions, heal spiritual wounds, generate hope and courage.  If there is something to this business of being blessed by God, that's where you'll find the answers...." The Life God Blesses, Gordon MacDonald

"In the apostle Paul there was a strong steady coherence underneath, consequently he could let his external life change as it liked and it did not distress him, because he was rooted and ground in God.  Most of us are not spiritually coherent because we are more concerned about being coherent externally.  Paul lived in the basement; the coherent critics live in the upper story of the external statement of things, and the two do not begin to touch each other.  Paul's consistency was down in the fundamentals...." My Utmost for His Highest; November 25, Oswald Chambers

Renew Your Mind

“Just like our closets, our minds can become cluttered by patterns of trends of this world. These outfits or thoughts processes may look like they belong in our closets the first few years they take up residence. But with the passage of time they soon appear thread bare and out of sorts. They fit too tight or too loose, too long or too short. Unless our closets- minds -are cleared out and reorganized on a timely and regular basis we will not be able to test and apply 

God's truth to our lives.”

 ~Lisa Bevere

“Who is there that sets himself to the task of steadily watching his thoughts for the space of one hour, with the view of preserving his mind in a simple, humble, healthful condition, but will speedily discern in the multiform, self-reflecting, self-admiring emotions, which, like locust, are ready to eat up every green thing in his land; a state as much opposed to 

simplicity and humility

 as night is to day.”

 ~M.A. Kelt

Is There Room in Your Heart

Is there room in your heart this Christmas

Is the Savior abiding there

Are you filled with the joy of His coming

or are you losing your hope to despair

Has your life become busy like Bethlehem

filled with travelers jammed everywhere

Is there room in your heart this Christmas

Is the Savior abiding there 

Do you still have your first love this Christmas

Is your faith just as strong and still new

or have the cares of the world caused a cooling

and affected what you used to do

There's an answer if this is your problem

Christ can come once again and renew

so in the midst of your pain and confusion

Look to Jesus to be born in you

Please don't let your faith become a fable

just a tale many doubt could be true

The whole point of Christ birth in a stable

is His miraculous Re-birth in you.

So have you given HIM the best you could offer

or just a place in the back some where

Is there room in your heart this Christmas

Is the Savior abiding there