Category: Adventures

If’s and Then’s

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Yesterday while at lunch there was a young family in the next booth. They had a child with them who was becoming restless. I heard the parents encourage the child by saying, if you can sit still while we finish our meals, then you can get ice cream. They then went on to ask what kind of ice cream, and if he wanted sprinkles and all of the usual toppings. Soon, the child was calm and the parents ate in peace.

So often as parents, we use this tactic. If you eat all your supper, then you can stay up an hour later, if you behave for the rest of the month, then we can go do something special.

As adults we do this to ourselves, if I can save such and such amount, then I will be able to afford whatever, or if I lose so many pounds then I can fit into that dress/suit.

Today as I read my Bible, I was reading in 2 Chronicles chapter 7. It’s a familiar chapter and holds a verse that is often quoted. As I read the chapter, though, it occurred to me, that our God is a good Father. He was talking to Solomon in this chapter and I read familiar things.

2 Chronicles 7:12-18, ” Then the Lord appeared to Solomon by night, and said to him: “I have heard your prayer, and have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice. 13 When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, 14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 15 Now My eyes will be open and My ears attentive to prayer made in this place. 16 For now I have chosen and sanctified this house, that My name may be there forever; and My eyes and My heart will be there perpetually. 17 As for you, if you walk before Me as your father David walked, and do according to all that I have commanded you, and if you keep My statutes and My judgments, 18 then I will establish the throne of your kingdom, as I covenanted with David your father, saying, ‘You shall not fail to have a man as ruler in Israel.” (NKJV)

In this passage God our Father gave Solomon goals to do things. This is all very positive. But, again, as the great Father our God is, He presented an opposing view also.

2 Chronicles 7:19-22, “But if you turn away and forsake My statutes and My commandments which I have set before you, and go and serve other gods, and worship them, 20 then I will uproot them from My land which I have given them; and this house which I have sanctified for My name I will cast out of My sight, and will make it a proverb and a byword among all peoples.21 “And as for this house, which is exalted, everyone who passes by it will be astonished and say, ‘Why has the Lord done thus to this land and this house?’ 22 Then they will answer, ‘Because they forsook the Lord God of their fathers, who brought them out of the land of Egypt, and embraced other gods, and worshiped them and served them; therefore He has brought all this calamity on them.’ ” (NKJV)

As parents we have also given warnings with the “if’s and then’s”. To me, what this means is, I have a choice as to what to do. With our children, we used to say, “Do you want to learn this the easy way or the hard way?” We would give them advice and let them choose. Sometimes they chose the hard way, which would give us concern as parents. Sometimes the hard way, although it is not the perfect way, does produce wisdom.

As I see it, I am presented with choices daily, will my if’s and then’s produce great results or will I once more learn the hard way?

A Quiet Friday

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For most of the week we have heard about Hurricane Ian and how it was going to affect our state. It did make landfall this afternoon in some of the areas we lived in the low country and some places that we would drive through and visit.

It has done some damage and caused some flooding. Our youngest lives in Charleston and they chose to ride it out. This morning we ran some errands and went to lunch with a friend. We came home and turned on a weather live stream.

In the meantime, we texted with family in the area and realized they were all safe and sound. Thank you Lord! I was fascinated to see the footage of the area we lived in for several years and found I had fascination to try and see beyond what was being broadcast.

There comes a time when after watching for a few hours you begin to realize the storm is onshore, and the remnants are present. We have been in the area long enough to know that tornadoes are always a possibility and we must be prepared.

All the time watching television and looking occasionally to our outside seeing that it is just a rainy Friday for us. As I sit here writing, the rain is a gentle rain and the wind is breezy. I know several people are still dealing with the vicious part of this storm, without power and seeing flood waters rising. And, it may become worse for us later today and this evening.

I am reminded that none of this has escaped our Lord’s attention. I marvel at the power of the water and the storm surges. I see that trees are ripped up and easily tossed.

I am fascinated by this all. The power of nature, the beauty of it all also. Our God created nature and all it’s properties. He knows the wrath of the ocean, and the force of winds. He spoke storms into being. Along with this, our God sees the hearts of the people affected. He knows the hurt, the fear, the panic people experience. He knows each and every moment of a storm.

You could wonder why He doesn’t stop storms, why He doesn’t prevent loss, why He doesn’t speak to the wind and the water. It’s a valid thought in these times, Why?

“Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. 30 But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. 31 Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” Matthew 16:29-31 (NKJV)

Our God sees all, knows all and has a plan for us all. He knows the number of hairs on our heads, and has counted those in our hairbrush. He has a plan for each one of us. He is aware of each bird that has fallen this week in this storm. He cares for them. We are so much more valuable than the birds of the air. He cares for you, and He has a plan for us in stormy weather and in calm.

Promises

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“So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;
It shall not return to Me void,
But it shall accomplish what I please,
And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

12 “For you shall go out with joy,
And be led out with peace;
The mountains and the hills
Shall break forth into singing before you,
And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.
13 Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree,
And instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree;
And it shall be to the Lord for a name,
For an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.” Isaiah 55:11-13 (NKJV)

God promises that His word will not return void. God’s promises are true and perfect. He will accomplish all that He says.

Today as I walked, the wind was blowing through the trees and I could hear the sound of the wind. I could feel the force of the wind helping me along with each step.

I looked into the woods surrounding our home, the trees were truly clapping their hands and the nearby mountains and our hills were singing in the wind.

God is powerful. He speaks to the wind and it sings back to Him. Praise His glorious name.

A Memory kind of day

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“Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, “This is the way you should go,”
  whether to the right or to the left.” Isaiah 30:21 (NLT)

Today is one of those rainy days. The kind of day where pajamas call to you and a blanket is yearning to be wrapped around you. They will have to wait a few more minutes this evening as I write this.

My mind today has been filled with snippets of memories. Japan has come to mind as has Maine and San Diego. Each memory has been brief, but poignant to me.

A family in our church has just returned from an extended mission in Asia. This morning we briefly talked about Asian food. She is hungry for food from that region. I told her we understood, as we are continuously looking for good Japanese food. It’s hard to explain what we are looking for though. It is food that first fills your senses with the greeting and the particular smell of soy, barbecuing to a certain crispness and the smell of seaweed all mingled together. It’s a scent you carry with you and in earnest we look for.

Another couple has relocated from CA, a familiar area to us. She was also part of the conversation and I mentioned Mexican food. She smiled and agreed with me. Although the south has many incredible dishes, Mexican dishes are not part of the ‘must write home about this’ category.

A little later a friend mentioned lobsters and how her eight year old son long ago asked for a lobster. We talked about the price and how it is only on a luxury meal where you get lobster. I recounted how we knew lobster-men in Maine and our oldest cut her teeth on lobster. It was a shock to her little system, when at three years old we moved from the coast of Maine to the other side of the country.

I find it funny that most memories center around food. But with meals come conversations and conversations lead to friendships and family. We always said while serving in the Navy that God cuts the orders and Uncle Sam paid for the way there. For 21 years the Lord directed our steps. He told us to turn to the left, or to the right. He guided us in the way He wanted us to go. He never failed us.

Because of this, we now have deep impressions in our minds of times and places and people He brought into our lives. The memories today are precious to me, but I confess, I wish the Lord would now direct us here to the places that food would take our taste buds back to what they remember.

Learning

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years ago I had someone tell me that the best way to learn is to teach. This was after being asked to teach a Sunday school class. I had never taught a Sunday school class, let alone actually read the Bible at that point in my life.

I trepidly started the class. Often I had to stop and ask one of the students questions. It wasn’t part of the lesson, but I knew this child knew more about the Bible than I did at that point. He was a third grader at the time. It was humbling, but in truth, I did start to learn by teaching.

Now, teaching Bible studies is one of my most favorite things to do. I enjoy the adventure of putting a lesson together and studying the material. I eagerly start and know each lesson in advance and am confident.

Until this current series I am doing. When asked to teach, I pray about the subject and it comes to mind and excitement begins to build in me. This time, I prayed as I always do, and the answer challenged me. I prayed some more. Same answer. I tried a third time, thinking I misheard the first two times. Wrong! Same answer. So, I acknowledged that I had heard and with deep breaths, I started to study.

Yes, one of the best ways to learn is to teach. I am learning so much with this study. It is bringing me out of my comfort zone. It is challenging me to lean on the Giver of all lessons in life. Together, the Lord and I are presenting this study. Actually, it is more Him than me.

Sundays hit me harder with this study. The class is on Monday mornings. So, come Sunday a mild panic sets in. Will I present this right? Do I have an actual grasp of the material? Am I comprehending this?

Yes, these are all questions that run through my mind on Sunday afternoons. The questions excite me. They stimulate my mind. The challenge me. This is all great stuff. Granted, the panic is not the best, but what it is teaching me is that I am learning with this lesson. I know without a doubt that this material has been picked out by the Lord, as it is something I wouldn’t have thought of. I am excited.

When the Lord challenges you, it’s a great adventure. He felt I was ready to be stretched. He wanted to teach me something new. I am learning through this teaching.

“The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.” Psalm 32:8 (NLT)

The Dance of the Leaves begin

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Fall began today. At least according to the calendar. We went to do our Costco run and the car temp read 95 degrees. It was miserable, but the sky was bright blue and the clouds were puffy and white. It was a nice, albeit, hot day.

As we were exiting Costco, it looked like it was evening outside. Considering we got there around 1 p.m., I knew we hadn’t taken that long inside. We got to the car, put everything in and put our cart back. The sky was dark and threatening.

Dale commented that he hoped the storm wasn’t going to involve hail and off we went towards home. The temperature gauge in the car read 85 degrees. As we drove down the interstate, there were leaves blowing around the sky. I had already had the title for this post and wondered what I was going to say about it. I realized I had a post.

The rain was strong as was the wind. There was a ballet of leaves and pine needles going on above us and in front of us. We drove past a farm called Walnut Grove farm and all of a sudden we heard thump, thump, thump, we were being hit by something. We laughed (well, I laughed) and told Dale that he had said he didn’t want hail, but he forgot to mention walnuts. The nuts from the tree lined street were blowing the nuts to the ground and we were in the way.

The dance of leaves continued as we came home. I guess this is just the beginning of the colder season coming upon us. Soon the leaves will be laying on the ground preparing a covering for the spring growth.

I loved our homeward adventure today, but, I have to say the walnuts were a bit of a surprise to us.

“Rejoice, you people of Jerusalem!  Rejoice in the Lord your God! For the rain he sends demonstrates his faithfulness. Once more the autumn rains will come, as well as the rains of spring” Joel 2:23 (NLT)

Fall Shadows

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Today the temperature is in the mid to high 80’s. Of course there is really no humidity so it makes the temp bearable.

As I walked out to the mailbox just now, the sun was shining brightly as I closed the door. I could feel the heat of the sun and the warmth it provided. By the time I got to the mailbox a slight breeze was blowing and I thought to myself, “ahh! Fall.” That glorious time of the year where you see the fluffy clouds in the sky and the leaves changing from green to yellow and red. It was wonderful.

As I walked toward the house, the sun went behind the clouds and the breeze felt a bit cooler.

My thoughts then went to how when we are walking with the Lord, listening intently to Him and reading His Word, we bask in the warmth of His presence. We can feel Him in all we do and we are covered in the glow of Him.

Likewise, when we drift away from the Lord, like hiding behind the clouds, our life becomes a bit darker, a bit colder, a bit lonelier. The estrangement isn’t noticeable immediately, but if we continue to drift away from His presence, the schism grows deeply.

“So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise.” Ephesians 5:15 (NLT)

51 years, a brief look back

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“For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT)

51 years ago, I never really thought of this above verse. It didn’t matter to me and because of that, I gave it no thought.

In hindsight, though, I think of all that was involved in bringing things to a point 51 years ago.

First a music director from our high school needed things moved to his cottage several miles away from our city. He hired two young men from the school to help him move those things. The two young men worked hard all day long and at the end of the day, he paid them for their work.

One of the young men went home and spent the night in with his parents and siblings. The other asked to use his mother’s car for a date. He then called a young girl who actually had other plans for the night.

The young girl’s sister insisted that the girl should accept the invitation to the date.

The two high school kids went to the bowling alley, bowled three games and drank a cola.

He drove her home, kissed her and they watched the 11:00 news together. He drove home.

All of these things worked together. The night went off without a hitch and that was that.

Now, I can look back and see the hand of God in all of this. Had Dale not worked for his music director, he wouldn’t have had the money to ask me out. Had my sister not insisted I accept the offer of a date, I would have gone to another fire-hall dance with my friend and gone home. I have no idea what would have been the alternate of that evening fifty one years ago today.

At the time I had no idea that it would be my last first date. I had no idea it would be my last first kiss. I had no idea that one date would be the beginning of my future. It’s funny how moments can pass innocently and we never think it was really a momentous moment.

Yet, God knew the plans He had for me. Plans for a future and a hope. Plans for good even when we goofed up and went on another path that could lead to disaster. God had a plan. I have often questioned this plan. When on my own with two young children and a deployment being extended several times over, when times were lean and months were long, when sickness or broken bones occurred and the Navy had my support system on the other side of the world.

Yet, today, I see that all of these plans were right for us. We have grown up together. We have stretched each other many times. We have challenged one another, each holding our ground firmly.

Through it all, God has seen us through. 51 years ago was our first date, thank you Mr. Runzo for that $40 you paid the guys. Thank you Mom for letting Dale use your car. Thank you Dottie for suggesting bowling instead of the fire-hall dance. Little did we know you were all part of a bigger plan.

“And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:20b (NLT)

Pardon Me, My human-ness is showing

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 “For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard.” Romans 3:23

Yes, this is my scripture for me today. You know those days where it is much better to go hide and tape your mouth shut? That’s today. That’s me. Full disclosure, complete honesty.

We all have those days, we all regret those days. I could blame it on the two Krispie Kreme donuts I had earlier, but no, I cannot. I really cannot blame it on anything except me being me.

On days like this, it seems my mouth engages and goes on and on and I stand and look at myself and wonder where that person came from. I thought when I got to be my age, I would have tackled and conquered these actions. Guess not. I can blame a lot of things as the reason for letting my tongue get the best of me, but that would not be correct.

But, what it does shake into me is my need for the Lord. I need to repent of my lashing out and I need to ask for forgiveness from Dale.

So, today I go to a scripture that I need to learn, “It’s better to live alone in the corner of an attic than with a quarrelsome wife in a lovely home.” Proverbs 21:9 (NLT)

Boundless Renewal

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“The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. 23 Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.” Lamentations 3:22-23 (NLT)

God is steadfast. Each morning He renews the day. He touches the earth and fresh life comes upon nature.

When we look closely we can see the artistry of our Creator. It may be subtle changes or it could be so intense it makes us smile. Like the first snowfall, or rain and wind after a long dry spell, or seeing leaves raining down in the fall. Or, it could be subtle. Seeing the end of the black-eyed Susan’s and then seeing a fall flower peeking out between them.

I may wake up, and think there is nothing new to do or see. I may think I have done all that is new or exciting, but then, I need to remind myself to look closely.

As I walked today this scripture came to mind followed by the song. In my mind I sang the words, knowing that I often overlook and miss the hand of God in my everyday life.

The Steadfast Love Of The Lord Never Ceases,
His Mercies Never Come To An End;
They Are New Every Morning,
New Every Morning,
Great Is Thy Faithfulness, O Lord.
Great Is Thy Faithfulness!