Just Sitting on a Rock....

Today's inspiration comes from Luke 5:16 "Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed."

Have you ever just needed to go and sit alone somewhere to think?   To calm yourself down? To pray?  Well, how about a rock?

When I was growing up in Columbus, OH, there as a beautiful park named the Park of Roses.  I spent hours there!!!  Walking through many acres of green grass, walking through the woods, playing tennis, climbing on the playground jungle gyms and swings, wading through the creek, and stepping gingerly across a drain pipe over the creek to reach the part of the park where all the exquisite roses were blooming!  

Once, when coming up the bank from the creek in a new place, I found a large rock that had a poem on it at the entrance of the Rose Garden.  It read:

"The kiss of the sun for pardon,

The song of the birds for myrth,

One is nearer God's heart in a garden,

Then anywhere else on earth."

(Poem by Dorothy Frances Gurney)

The poem was put there by a lovely lady that I did not know.  But, I found out who she was and why she had placed the plaque there - in honor of her late husband.  I loved this poem the first time I read it!!!  And, I came to know Anna Brial for just a short while before she passed away.  And interestingly enough, Anna ended up coming to my wedding which took place in the Park of Roses in 1980.  All because of a rock!

I sat on it sometimes for hours........thinking, reasoning things out, talking with God.  Away from all the hustle and bustle of life.  Just sitting on a rock, contemplating life!

I wonder if Jesus did the same sometimes.....I know He prayed a lot in places where no one else was, and many times in a garden.  But, did He just sit and contemplate life there too?  I tend to think so.

Prayer:  Lord Jesus, thank you for being my Rock!  And, thank you for withdrawing away from the crowds and the hustle and bustle of life to be with Your Father.  I am grateful for your example.  Thank you for holding me.  

Every day.

Tree trunks and branches....

With all of the roller-coaster spectrum of emotions many of us are facing during this COVID pandemic, I wanted to share a great analogy I learned today from Our Daily Bread devotional.  Tree trunks and branches - how many of you are living in the branches?  Feeling swayed by stress right now?  Feeling overwhelmed?  Trying to home school, trying to find a job, trying to find activities to fill the hours, trying to figure out how your finances are going to make it through this time, trying to find "Normal," and trying to NOT go stir crazy???

Think about a tree.........the trunk is solid.  Anchored in the ground.  Roots running deep.  And, growth occurs without us seeing the visible evidence every day.  Trunks don't move in the wind.  They stand tall and sturdy.  They are rooted and grounded.

What about the branches?  Do they sway in the breeze?  Do the branches bend when a storm comes?  Certainly!

When life is like a wind blowing at us from every angle as it is right now, we seem to sway with the emotions that mount up!  What if we look out the window at a tree trunk and try to be a bit more like it? What if learn to be a strong, sturdy trunk?  Rooted, grounded.

What if we stand on the promise of the Bible that we are "rooted and grounded in Christ's love?"  (Ephesians 3:17)  What if we allow the wind to blow through our branches and bring us a sense of security knowing that the trunk is immovable?  Christ is the solid ground we stand on.  Christ, not our own volatile emotions.  "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever." (Hebrews 13:8).

Did that sink in?  Forever.  Grounded.  Rooted in love.  Always.  Even when the winds of COVID blows through our lives, there is a force that is immovable.  Unquechable.  Unstoppable. 
Let the winds of His love blow through the branches of your life only to take you to the one place where there is solid ground.

Special....

What makes something "special?"  Is it something that surpasses that which is common or usual?  Is it something "Exceptional?" Or is it something that is distinct and one of a kind?  It is something distinctive indeed.....sole, specific and unique! 

Well, that is my niece, Michelle!!!  Today is her 40th birthday...........which is a very special day for our family!!!

Michelle is the oldest of three girls........born in April.......the first child to my sister and her husband, the first grandchild to my mom and dad and the first Great-Grandchild to my grandparents, Gramps and Grami. 

What a special day it was...........April 26, 1980.  A day full of joy and happiness!!!  A day filled with love!!!  A day to remember..............

What makes Michelle special?  Many things!  She is gorgeous, intelligent, flexible, adaptable, kindhearted, hard-working, industrious and wonderful!!!  She, like Mary Poppins can make ANY day special! 

SUPER-CAL-I-FRAG-I-LISTIC-EX-PI-AL-I-DO-SIOUS!!! Yep!  That's Michelle!

Just walking with her and her doggie, Luna is special. Sharing a cup of coffee at the Mad Llama coffee shop is special.  Sharing lunch at First Watch is special. Making dinner at home is special. Even doing laundry with Michelle is special.  You see, it's not the place or the event you share with Michelle....it's the person!  She is the Extra-Special ingredient!!!

When my grandmother, Dorothy was alive, she would call Michelle "The Little Red Hen."  Michelle always wanted to help, always showed compassion when someone needed a little companionship, always offered herself, and was a little ray of sunshine anywhere she went!  She is/was the Special ingredient!

Remember the old song:  The Rainbow Connection by Kermit the Frog?
 Here are some of the words to the song: 
"Why are there so many songs about rainbows, and what's on the other side?
 Rainbows are visions, but only illusions, and rainbows have nothing to hide.
So we've been told, and some choose to believe it,
I know they're wrong; wait and see....
Someday we'll find it, the Rainbow connection;
The lovers, the dreamers and me."

My family has found that Rainbow connection in Michelle......she's a lover, a dreamer and she can brighten up any room!!!  She is the sunshine after the rain......the place where the Rainbow can shine!!!

Thank you, dear Heavenly Father for sending this ray of sunshine into our lives!

Frolic....

Have you ever seen an entire field of baby lambs frolicking?  That's right!  Jumping, romping, prancing and just having fun!!!  We all need that about now and then, and of course right now with this COVID lockdown!!!

So what makes you want to frolic?  Where can you add some playfulness in your life?
Some high-spirited fun???  I know we cannot be with the people we normally would go to to have fun, but think about it!  What would you do if you could?  Who would you do it with?

Make a list!  Make it fun!  Make it long!!!
Make a list of the old fashioned gaiety or merrymaking you would do!!!  Or what your Grandfather might have done!!  My beloved grandfather, Gramps used to pull quarters out of our ears!!! I was amazed every time he did it!  How did he do it?  To this day, I cannot replicate it!  But, it was FUN!!!
So, what is a fun prank you could pull?  What trick could you play?  How might you tease someone close to you to bring a smile today???

Just recently at my former job before I was laid off, one of my co-workers told me that I was not "frolicking enough!"  So, I started going down the aisle of our cubes to say hello, share a smile, and ask about their day!  Who can you check on to see if they are frolicking???  (Ha! Ha!)

How can we "frolic" more???   Look up an old cartoon like Looney Tunes, Tom and Jerry, Road Runner and laugh!!!  Giggle...........have some fun - even in our Safe at Home places!!!
Watch an old Carol Burnett Show, I Love Lucy, Three Stooges........whoever made you laugh!!!

We have SO much to be grateful for........make a list of each time you frolicked...each time you were able to share a laugh with someone you had not seen in a very long time!  Each time you shared JOY!!!

Today your mission should you decide to accept it is:  FROLIC!!!

Resilience

Resilience....the ability to recover quickly.... buoyancy....the ability to resume after being bent out of shape....stretched!  Do you think our country and our world are being stretched right now??  Absolutely!!!

COVID-19 has completely shut our world's resources down!  Boom.  Stay at home. Safe at home. Locked down.  No travel.  Restricted on all levels.  Face masks in public.  Gloves.  Wash your hands and then wash them again.

Medical and healthcare personnel stretched to the brink of disaster! It IS a disaster.....

How does one have resilience in a time like this?  How do we bravely spring back into shape as a person, as a family, as a country, or as our world?

I don't have the answer to all those questions bouncing around in all of our heads and our hearts, but I do know that the buoyancy of faith will help us recover.  Faith in a God who is not surprised by this pandemic.  He has not been caught "off guard."  He is right here in the middle of this with us.  Just as He was on 9-11-2001.

He is there in the nurse who travels to New York City to share her talents and gifts of healing with all those suffering there...day after day....exhausted....spent....
He is there when a son goes to California to help his dad with the remnants of a house completely burned to the ground after a year of renovation.
He is there in the neighbor who checks on the other neighbors and sees if they need anything from the store.
He is there when we share our hope and our strength with those who have lost all hope, lost all strength.
He is there when we sing and share music that soothes our souls.
He is there when a church rallies around their community and offers Scriptures, prayers and healing.
He is there when a group of family and friends go to a parking lot of a hospital to park, pray and praise our Heavenly Father for healing those inside the hospital or rehabilitation facility.
He is there in the sunshine.
He is there on the gray days when our spirits are gloomy and in despair.
He is there in the gentle breeze that touches our face.
He is there when your dog or cat nuzzle up to you or does a silly dance for a treat and makes you smile.
He is there when you can hug your loved ones safe at your own home and have been quarantined for almost a month now.
He is there when you share a funny video on social media.
He is there when you call you sister because you are lonely and afraid.
He is there when your brother and sisters send funny memes to each other about Grizzly bear hugs from afar.
He is there when we are on our knees in prayers.
He is there when we cry for help.
He is there when we weep for those we have lost
He is there when we rejoice over one who comes home.

He is there.  Trust Him.  Rely on Him.  Depend on Him.  Come to Him.  Come to the Living Waters and drink from the well that never runs dry.

He is there.

The Lamb of God....

How many of you remember Twila Paris' song called:  The Lamb of God?  It is beautiful...it is tender...it is convicting.  Check it out on YouTube or iTunes!  It is one of my favorite songs!!!

We all know what lambs are:  a young sheep.  Or, in our culture, sometimes we describe a person as being like a lamb.  They are believed to be gentle, innocent or a gullible person.  One who is perhaps naive or mild-mannered. Do you know someone like that?  Perhaps your friend, or co-worker, student or child you teach, or perhaps it is a sibling who is gentle, innocent, or naive.  The characteristics of being like a lamb are lovely!  Yet, someone might be offended if you describe them as a lamb because they want to be strong, courageous or maybe even bold!  Yet, their personality is more humble, gentle and timid.  That's okay!  God gave each of us a different demeanor for a reason!  Each of us has a special unique gift that God planted in our souls...........we are to find and use it for His Glory!  So, if you are a lamb - be proud of it and wear it proudly for the Lord.

I have a funny story about lambs.....way back in 1983 when I was a MacMillan Publishing Company College Text book representative, I was driving to Warrensburg, MO to what they called back then:  Central Missouri State University, now University of Central Missouri.  The highway back then was only a 2 land highway.  As I was driving to the campus, just about 5 miles west of Warrensburg, was a field of baby lambs!  I was blown away at how cute they were: frolicking, jumping, and running after each other in what looked like pure fun!  So, I pulled over to the side of the road and just watched........smiled.....even laughed at their frolicking!  Suddenly, I heard a knock on my driver's window!  It startled me and there on the other side of the window was a policeman.  I rolled down my window and asked how I could help him?  He asked me if I was okay?  I said yes. Was my car disabled?  No, I responded.  "Then, why are you stopped Ma'am?"  My answer was:  " I am watching the baby lambs."  He about died laughing............his response was:  "Well, that's the first time I have ever had THAT answer!"
We both laughed and he asked me to get on my way as I was a hazard on the highway!  I will never forget that day!!  It was a beautiful spring day with clear blue skies and a whole field of baby lambs!!!  It was an amazing gift........

Now, let's concentrate on the Lamb of God:  Jesus Christ.  He was/is The King of the Jews, Savior, Redeemer and Lord of Lords!  He died to set each one of us free from our sins.  Have you ever truly realized the sacrifice that went into His Life, His death???  That's where the convicting part of Twila's song comes from!!  Jesus had NO sins.  He lived a perfect life.  He came as a gift of love and yet they crucified Him.  We crucified Him.  A torturous, cruel death.   They laughed at Him.  They scorned Him. They named Him a fraud.  And, yet, He was sacrificed for you, for me.  We are washed in His precious blood as believers.  I remember a time when I was so lost, I should have died.  But, He brought me to His side.  He led me with His staff and rod, just as the song says.  And, He gave me the right to be called a Daughter of the Most High God.
Wow!!!  Amazing............how can this be true? 

Take a peek at this Scripture in Mark 1:9 where this is recorded:  "At that time, Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan river.  As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw Heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending like a dove.  And a voice came from Heaven:  "You are my Son, whom I love; with You I am well pleased."
His Son.  God's Son.  Beloved.  Approved of.  Loved beyond imagination.  Wow.....

Then, the disciple John declared this in the Holy Scriptures in John 1:29: "The next day, John saw Jesus coming toward him and said: "Behold!  The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"

Can you imagine standing there in the midst of the crowd and hearing John proclaim these words?
I wish I could have been there!  I wonder how I might have reacted?  Praises?  Disbelief? Honored?  Or, Horrified?  If I knew that my sins would place Him on the cross to die for me, how would I have reacted?  Would I have been filled with gratitude?  Or, would I have been indignant?  Thinking I could not possibly do anything that horrible that someone would have to die for me.  I hope that I would have praised Him and honored Him, but would my disbelief have taken over?  Would I have been horrified by the fact of my own sin???  Only the Lord knows my heart and what I would have done.

All I know today is that I am incredibly blessed.  Jesus has become my friend as well as my Savior.  I remember when I was lost, but now I KNOW that I am found.  I don't have to doubt where I am going after this life.  I know where I am going!!!  And, it will be amazing.........The words of Amazing Grace run through my veins on some days!!!  And, another song says:  I know that my Redeemer lives - that is amazing!!!  I have everything I need.  Everything!!!

If the world ended tomorrow, I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that I will be in Heaven with my precious Lord.  That's not arrogance.  That is not bragging.  That is Salvation!!!  It is FREE to anyone who wants it!!!

How about you?  Do you know the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of this crazy world?  If not, start with reading the book of John in the New Testament in the Bible.  Look up John 3:16.  Read it over and over and over again until it sinks into your soul!  Ask a friend who has a strong faith to pray with you.  Ask my Pastor at Crossroads-Christian Church in Shawnee:  Brad Fangman or Brad Fogo at 913-962-9966.  Listen to a Podcast on why Christ came to earth.  Read Lee Strobel's book:  The Case for Christ.  Watch the DVD God's Not Dead.  Go to Crossroads.net app (my church in Cincinnati, OH) and find the God of the Universe who is even now looking for you!!!  There are a million different ways for you to connect with God and learn about Him and His amazing Grace!!!

The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.  Trust Him. Rely on Him. Come to Him.  Depend on Him.  He is there.........closer than your breath!!!

SPLASHES OF JOY!

SPLASHES OF JOY!

Okay, the silliness has begun.............it's Monday morning and I am on unemployed. What do I start my day with?  Thinking about Splashes!!!  Why???  Because I am nuts, that's why!!!  So humor me, will you please?

I was driving down the road the other morning and looked over at the truck next to me carrying 7-Up products and what did the sign read?  Splash Transit!  That got me thinking as you can imagine!!!  How do we transport our "Splash" for God?  Do we spread it all around for others to see or do we keep it hidden inside an 18 wheeler??? 

Splash means to dash or scatter about in masses!  Okay, let's get going:  dash, splash, splatter, scatter, swirl, swash, spray, and sprinkle away!!!  Send out a flying mass of love through the air waives or the internet by email, Instagram, Facebook or whatever social media format you like!  Send out a dash of peace to your neighbor that bugs you!  Swish past your impatience and give your kid or your spouse a mass of patience today - just because!  Scatter kindness and goodness!!!  Add a dash of gentleness next time someone hurts your feelings!  Swirl all the faith you have together and show the world the "masses" of gifts that God has given you!!!  Transport those gifts as "Splashes" to others and show how God has changed your life since you came to know Him!  And, last, but not least, offer NO self-control in spreading God's love!!!

Yep!  The fruits of the Spirit are yours to splash around wherever you can (virtually that is) today!!!  And, splash them again tomorrow and each day after that!!!  Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Goodness, Kindness, Gentleness, Faithfulness and Self-control.  (Oops, I mean NO self-control on this one!!!)

Now, let’s add JOY!!!  Joy is an emotion of great delight or happiness caused by something exceptionally good or satisfying!! 

Exceptionally good…………satisfying………..hmmm……think about that!  We have more time to really delve into our thoughts and lives.  What is most important to you now and what brings us joy??? Pure Joy???

Think about elation?  What is that???  Joy with a big name!!!  When was the last time you felt elation???

Was it the first time your baby smiled at you?  What is the news that you were pregnant after waiting 15 years???  Or, was it when your grandchild learned to ride his/her bike with you watching???  Or, was it when you bought your first Mustang…..Nova…..Honda……Harley???

When was the last time you felt delighted as you shared a fun experience with someone special or your family or friends?  Playing cards, playing games together, playing baseball or soccer together?  Going for a walk or a bicycle ride together? While that is on hold for now, but that does not mean you cannot remember those joyful times and journal about them.  Or, better yet!  Write your son or daughter, sister or brother, friend or co-worker a note to let them know how much fun you had with them and you can’t wait to do it again!

When was the last time you really laughed?  I mean a laugh clear down to your belly button laugh!  Can you remember when was the last time you laughed, giggled, or cried at something so funny your sides hurt???  Start a revolution of laughter!!!

Get a comic book or a book full of jokes – go online and look up Knock, Knock jokes!  Just be silly!!!

Splash, sprinkle, dash and scatter a mass of joy in your corner of the world!!!  Splash those thoughts and memories all around when you talk, email, Facetime, send photos, posts, texts to the people in your life!  We need massive amounts of joy, laughter and love right now!  Spread it all around in any way you can!!!

SPLASH TRANSIT, here we come!!!

SPLASH AWAY!!! We need to encourage each other with JOY!!!

SPLASHES OF JOY – We need an entire world of silliness right now to offset the severity of this COVID 19 virus!

Nehemiah 8:10 says: “The Joy of the Lord is my strength.”