OLD PHOTOGRAPHS, STORIES AND LIFE

Between “tear breaks” I looked through old pictures; pictures of an 18-year old couple beginning a life together, full of hopes and dreams, yet to be realized.  There were snapshots of 2 kids holding a newborn baby and then 17 months later another baby appears in the scene.  Among the old photos are those of loved ones that we miss so much and long to hold once more.  Jump to 2013 and there is that newborn baby, all grown up, standing proudly with his wife and 3 beautiful children and the other baby with his wife and 4 beautiful children.  When did life happen and where did time go?  I had aspirations and dreams and plans and goals; I want a do over!!!

There is an old country song with the lyrics, “I’d like to be 16 again and know what I know now!”  Have you ever felt that way?  I certainly have!  If I could only go back to 18 years old and Steve and I could start our life all over.  Oh the things I would do differently.  We would certainly be rich because I would have sunk our entire fortune into Microsoft and Wal-Mart, and then sold it all at just the right time.  There are places we would not have moved to and houses we would not have moved from.  I would have saved more, bought less and cut up the credit cards.  More time would have been spent just talking and laughing with those who have reached the finish line first.  I would have sat on the floor and played more, not caring about all the tasks I thought were priorities.  I would have worried less and trusted more because now I know of God’s faithfulness.  I WANT A DO OVER!

As I continue to reminiscence, God takes me on a journey down memory lane.  That life that seems to have just slipped past was really busy and full and He was using every moment to make me into the person He had planned.  That first little house, with the toilet falling through the floor was teaching me to be thankful for every blessing so I would appreciate the brand new house 35 years later.  Balancing the checkbook until payday and returning pop cans for lunch money taught me thrift, the value of coupons, cooking meals instead of fast food, using cloth diapers when everyone else had disposable, helped me learn to be content for future times when the checkbook would balance itself.  I learned that God is truly our provider and will use any means to bless us, even if it means blowing something off of a roof and denting a car, giving us an insurance check to pay a bill.  God was there gently instructing me as I sat in the dark night praying and holding a little boy who’s nose wouldn’t stop bleeding; He is our healer.  Through every storm, I learned that He is the “Master of the Wind,” and only God can speak peace to my situation.

Back to my box of photographs; each one telling another piece of my life’s story.  How many of the precious memories would simply disappear if I was granted a do over?  What if I had always done the “sensible” thing for the moment?  I might have had a great career with loads of money, a grand home and luxury car in the garage but I would have missed those chubby little arms tight around my neck.  We may not have moved to Michigan, Minnesota and Tennessee and I would have avoided the struggles, the loneliness and the heartache and the people we ministered to, the friendships and the adventures.  We could have traveled the world but missed out on Saturday trips to the beach, making a snowman in the front yard and playing Yahtzee at the dining room table.

Suddenly the “Do over” isn’t quite so inviting and this story of my life with all its many pieces is really quite wonderful.  You don’t need a “Do over.”  Allow God to take the scattered pieces, even the ones you don’t think can possibly fit and put the puzzle of your life together.  That event you would change creates a splash of color in the completed picture.  The edge pieces are seemingly unimportant to the overall theme but without them the puzzle remains unfinished.   Your personal puzzle is not quite finished but if you take a moment and look through God’s eyes you will see that life really is quite a wonderful journey.

DECORATED WITH LOVE

I will admit something that all my friends already know; I am ARTISTICALLY-CHALLENGED.   I see a beautiful picture in a magazine and even with all the ingredients, my living room still somehow ends up looking “lived in” instead of elegant.  I have friends that make quilts, decorate cakes, fashion beautiful bows for their granddaughters, live in beautifully “put-together” homes, and decorate elegant, award-winning Christmas trees.  Me?  I even mess up the helpful hints and finally just settle for “good enough.”

Being “artistically-challenged,” is not something that developed over time; Oh no!  I was born with this “handicap.”  In school, I dreaded art almost as much as I dreaded tumbling in gym class.  Let me do arithmetic, social studies or even practice handwriting but, puhleeze don’t make me draw or paint, model clay or do paper mache.  I have many art horror stories, but this one in particular belongs to the Christmas season.

 My second grade teacher, Mrs. Johnson, had the bright idea that the class would make beautiful ornaments to take home.  First we had to draw a shape of something on cardboard, cut it out, take heavy glue-dipped string, outline the shape, and finally paint it with tempera paint.  I drew a star (probably because anyone can draw a star), painstakingly applied the string and painted it a bright yellow.  It was the most horrible, lopsided, ugliest star ever made and what did my mom do when she found it among my things?  Laugh out loud?  Throw it in the trash when I wasn’t looking?  Console me with, “at least you tried?”  No way!!!  That star was given a prominent place on the Christmas tree, that year and for 49 years since (yep, my mom kept it and still brings it out every Christmas.)

Back to the beautiful, professional-looking, magazine-worthy Christmas trees my friends all post on Facebook…I really tried this year.  I could see it in my mind; the lights twinkled, ribbons swirled and streamed from the top, the color-coordinated ornaments were perfectly placed and this year, my tree would receive all the oohs and ahhs.  Then I opened my ornaments and the memories came flooding over me.  Some are hand-made, others have been given to me by dear friends; there are reminders of the anticipation of two little boys choosing just the right ornament for this year’s tree, one says 1982 and another is from a little girl I taught in Sunday School, years ago.  My tree won’t make it on a Christmas Card; the ornaments were hung through happy tears and the only oohs and ahhs I will receive are from my grandbabies that are still young enough to appreciate a tree decorated with love.

Now we come to the true meaning of Christmas in the heart of all Believers.  I’m sure Mary would have loved to have given birth in elegant surroundings or at least a much more sanitary place.  She may have dreamed of swaddling her baby in soft, hand-woven blankets and placing him in the cradle, lovingly crafted by Joseph.  The family would gather and ooh and ahh at the beauty of this special child, showering him with gifts to mark this glorious day.  But reality changed everything.  Luke 2:6-7 describes the scene, ⁶ So it was that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. ⁷ And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.  The smelly stable, rough-hewn manger and animal sounds were not what she had envisioned. Instead of a loving family, Jesus was greeted by shepherds and angels and a special star to light the night.

Your life may seem a little lopsided, the ornaments may not be placed perfectly and you may even have a burned-out strand of lights hidden among the branches, but God thinks you are beautiful.  He oohs and ahhs when He sees you because He doesn’t look for elegance and perfection as a place to dwell.  God searches for the little star that others would toss aside and He hangs it in a prominent place on His Tree of Life because it is decorated with love.

IT'S OK, TWO WHEELS ARE ON DRY GROUND

This morning there was the first, of the season, visible, measurable, sprinkling of snow on the ground.  With a steaming cup of coffee and nowhere to go, it really was a beautiful scene; just don’t expect me to drive in it unless there is a real emergency.  My friends and family are well aware of my aversion to driving or traveling on icy, snow-covered roads.  Living in the north, all my life, I have experienced my share of skids, spin-outs, slide offs and accidents due to badly plowed roads and in-a-hurry drivers.  I know I make my sweet husband crazy by my constant reminders of “be careful,” “aren’t you going a little too fast,” “it looks slick up there,” etc.  He has learned how to pretty much just “tune out” everything he doesn’t want to hear but sometimes his exasperation at me explodes.  Several years ago, we were traveling to the northern Michigan town of Gaylord to attend a church fellowship meeting.  It was winter, snowy and the highway was not plowed to my satisfaction.  My never ending warnings and muttering, “Jesus” under my breath finally got on his last nerve; probably because he was trying to concentrate on not going in the ditch.  Without taking his eyes off the road (thank God) he very loudly said words in which I have often found great comfort and have never forgotten. “SUSAN,” he said, “It’s ok, two wheels are on dry pavement.”

Our life is made up of interlocking seasons that sometimes morph into the next before we are prepared for the change.  One morning you wake up and notice a chill in the air, the vibrant green areas are frosted with snow and the trees are bare of fruit and leaves; winter has arrived.  Winter is not one of the seasons of life for which we yearn. It is a season of dormancy, in which we see little or no growth in our relationship with God.  It is a time of leanness and barrenness in our soul as we watch the greenness dry and wither.  It seems that when you try to keep pushing ahead on the path, you hit a slick spot and sometimes even spin-out and slide off into the ditch.  The temptation is to grab a hot cup of coffee and hunker down in safety until spring, but God has some good things planned, even for winter.  In Job 38:22 God asks Job, “Have you entered into the treasures of the snow?”  The snow falls in nature and in our life for a purpose and God provides “treasure in the snow.”

If you are in a season of winter, stand still when you must but when God says let’s go, move forward with the assurance, “it’s ok, two wheels are on dry pavement.”  God has never had a spin-out or slid off into the ditch.  He has 20/20 vision, even during blizzard conditions and a “white-out.”  He is a “SURE FOUNDATION,” a “STRONG TOWER,” and He is “ORDERING YOUR STEPS.”  When the icy winds blow, the snow piles high and your vision is limited, allow that “still small voice” to whisper words of peace, “it’s ok, two wheels are on dry pavement.”

HOW DO YOU SMELL?

Of course I love nice smelling things; I’m a woman!  We love the soft, velvety smell of a freshly bathed baby, the deep sexy scent of expensive perfume, a bouquet of flowers, citrusy-scented hand soaps and lotions, spicy candles and a just-showered husband.  After painting our master bathroom a beautiful Caribbean aqua, the hunt for accessories began.  Included in my cart of purchases was a beautiful, plug-in, wax-melter and vanilla wax cubes.  I couldn’t wait, of course, and soon my bathroom smelled so sweet.  It didn’t end there, the fragrance spread to the master bedroom and wafted down the stairway to the living room.  My home was filled with the smell of crushed vanilla bean.

Did you know that you are a diffuser of the fragrance of His knowledge; the fragrance of Christ among those who are perishing and being saved?   Oh yes you are!!!  I have never thought of myself as a sweet smelling representative of the aroma of God and I doubt if you have either, but look at the following verses.   2 Corinthians 2:14-15 Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. ¹⁵ For we are to God the fragrance of Christ among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. 

 The fragrance you leave after meeting with unbelievers just may form their view of God.  Do you fill the room with the sweet odors of love and forgiveness or do the musty smells of superiority and condemnation linger as you exit the room?  Is it the promise of joy and peace that draws them to God or does the stale air of defeat and fear continue to overpower the atmosphere?  Does your aroma smell of hope or carry the stench of despair?   As Believers, there should be a lovely fragrance trailing us, as we walk through the room.  The refreshing aroma of hope and love should not only fill the room we are in, but waft through the whole house and leave a lingering, pleasant scent long after we are gone.

I raised 2 boys, so I know about sports-smells, outdoor-smells, clean showered-smells and pre-date aftershave smells; quick underarm whiffs and "cupping your hand around your mouth and nose, fresh-breath" sniffs.  Maybe it is time the Followers of Christ take a quick sniff to catch a whiff of our personal aroma.  Check yourself!!!   If there is no sweet smelling savor; if your space is beginning to smell a little dank and stale, it is time for a bath!  Soak awhile in His presence; allow the Holy Spirit to baptize you afresh and infuse you with His fragrance so that you can diffuse the fragrance of Christ among those being saved and those who are perishing.

A COMRADE HAS FALLEN

This blog was written and posted at the beginning of 2013.  As I reread and prepare to repost it, I am saddened by thoughts of those who have fallen since the original posting.  We are in a fight for souls and we cannot passively sit by or we will lose ground. The Church is not just DEFENDING territory we are marching forth to CONQUER and POSSESS territory.  THIS IS WAR!!!

Our country has been fighting the war against terror on foreign soil for over 10 years.  During that time we have sustained many casualties. Men and women have come home wounded and some have lost their life, defending our desire to live in a land free from terrorist attacks.  When a comrade has fallen, our elite military forces live by the motto, “Leave No Man Behind!”   The unit will do everything possible to rescue the injured or recover the body of their fellow soldier.  As one of these brave men stated, “American soldiers do not abandon their dead and wounded on the battlefield.”

WHAT ABOUT OUR BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN THE LORD’S ARMY?  I enlisted in this army 47 years ago.  During that time I have been involved in many battles.  Every battle has not been successful but as I look back at the territory we’ve gained, I can say we are WINNING THE WAR!!!  I ask the next question with sadness and tears falling down my face, “What about our comrades that have fallen?”  So many have fallen, been wounded and left to die on the battlefield.  What have I done?  Have I watched them fall as I fought on; mourned their passing as I nursed my own wounds?  Have I callously just called them a “casualty of war,” judging that they should have been stronger, better equipped, or fought just a little harder?  How many could have been saved if I had risked all, in the heat of the battle, to reach down, take them by the hand and pull that brother or sister back to safety?  I think of the many times in my life, when a fellow soldier has wrapped their arms around me, given me a shoulder to lean on or an encouraging word in the middle of my heaviest battle; can I do any less?

We are led by a General who shed His precious blood; gave His life, that we might win the war. The Church must be brave, we must fight valiantly, but we cannot leave our own on the enemy’s battlefield.   There are brothers and sisters who have fallen, some have grown weary in the battle, others are wounded and dying; will you; will I risk my own comfort, position, even reputation to bring them home?   Our motto must be, “God’s soldiers do not abandon their dead and wounded on the battlefield.”

THE HARBINGER DECODED - REVIEW

I discovered Jonathan Cahn and his bestselling book, The Harbinger, in early 2012.  It was a fascinating read and one I found hard to put down.  Since that time I have shared the book with my husband, friends, family and church friends. I was brought to tears listening to Rabbi Cahn’s address at the Presidential Prayer Breakfast and again at the 9/11 Day of Remembrance Prayer Service.  I believe that as a Jewish believer in Jesus Christ, Rabbi Cahn has a special insight into Old Testament scripture and has been especially anointed by God to bring a message of warning to other believers in this very hour.

The Harbinger Decoded video is a compilation of the highlights of his book, The Harbinger.  It gives the viewer a condensed version of each of the  harbingers contained in the book, their meaning and the parallels between the Old Testament warning of judgment on Israel and the modern warning of judgment on the United States that began with the terrorist attack of 9/11.  I believe as Rabbi Cahn states that God gives warnings to His people to draw them to repentance and back into right relationship with Him.  As he states, it is up to God’s people to humble themselves and pray and turn from their wicked ways; only then can America experience the revival that God desires to pour out on His people. 

I recommend buying both The Harbinger Decoded and The Harbinger; read them and pass them on.

WORRY? I'M GOING TO SLEEP!

So many times as I read the Word of God, my inadequacies become glaring obvious.  As I read of the perseverance of the “Heroes of Faith,” I find my own steadfastness sorely lacking.  Then as I begin to dig a little deeper and study a little more, I begin to understand they were all imperfect people just like me and together we serve a PERFECT GOD, who is ready to reach down, wrap His everlasting arms around us, set us on a solid rock and is always faithful.   David is such a wonderful example of an imperfect servant of our perfect God and wasn’t afraid to reveal all of his wart, bumps, bruises and scars.  He understood life wasn’t really about his failures but about God’s faithfulness.

In Psalms 3:1-2, David writes, “O Lord, how my adversaries have increased! Many are rising up against me.  ² Many are saying of my soul, “There is no deliverance for him in God.” Have you ever felt like David?  I have.  Sometimes it seems that you don’t have a friend in the world that really believes in you.  David’s adversaries didn’t even believe that God would come through for him.  Makes you just want to shrivel up and die, doesn’t it?  But David doesn’t stop there, because he had a faith in God and a history with God that could lift him above what anyone thought or was saying about him.  In verse 3, David refutes everything his enemies are bringing against him; “But You, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the One who lifts my head.”  David wasn’t king because of his strength, military prowess or even by birth, it was God who had positioned him to be king, God who “lifted his head” and all the glory belonged to God.  Rise up against him; say whatever you think, David was confident in the relationship that existed between him and God.

 You see, to David it wasn’t just KNOWLEDGE that God was faithful; it was a deeply rooted truth, he had experienced from his youth.  What did David do with this knowledge?  Verse 5 tells us, “I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustains me.”  Don’t you just love it?  As Alfred E. Neuman puts it, “What, me Worry?”  With his knowledge and confidence in God’s faithfulness, David took his worries and fears, put them in the Lord’s capable hands and went to sleep. 

Oh to have that kind of faith and assurance that “If God is for me, who can be against me.”  Most times we pull  out all the darts Satan is throwing at us, ask God for help, try to figure out how to soothe the wounds and then wait for the perfect opportunity to throw the darts right back.  If it feels like everything is against you and there is a widespread belief that even God can’t come through for you on this one, reach way back and pull out your history.  God hasn’t changed!!! Just as He has many times before, He will come through for you.  He is your Shield, your Glory, and the Lifter of Your Head.  Step 2…Lay down; go to sleep and wake up refreshed for the Lord will sustain you.  Be confident in God’s great love and the relationship you have built with Him.  Along with David you can say, “Worry?  I’m going to sleep!”

STUDYING THE GAME FILM

Ahhh, September; football season; Saturdays with the Michigan Wolverines and Sundays with the Chicago Bears have arrived at the Niswonger house.  We gather, watch the game; I listen to commentary both from the television and the sofa.  Learn what plays should have been called; find out the plays that we can’t believe they called and which team has the toughest defenses or strongest Offense and always, always root for our team and against the team (no matter which) that can hurt our team's chances for a championship.   Once the game is over, our weekly routine continues but it doesn’t end for the team.  There are practices, plays to design and learn and game films to review.  The coaches and players review their own team’s films, correcting mistakes and searching for weaknesses that can be strengthened by practice or personnel changes.  Game films from next week’s rival team are also viewed and studied.  The strengths are noted, but the most important search is for the opponent’s weaknesses.  No matter how strong a team, if a weakness can be identified and a game plan constructed to attack at the point of weakness, a rival team has a great chance of victory.

Judges 16 records the well known story of Samson and Delilah.  In an earlier chapter, we learn that Samson was to follow a Nazarite vow from his birth and throughout his life.  Even during her pregnancy, Samson’s mother was commanded by God to eat nothing unclean, to not drink wine and once he was born, Samson was to never cut his hair because God was going to use him to deliver the people of Israel from the Philistines.  As we read the story of Samson, we find out that Samson was disobedient to the counsel of his parents and to the command of God throughout his life.  In Judges 16, we find Samson has fallen in love with a Philistine woman and she is determined to learn the source of his strength so she can sell the information to her countrymen and gain an advantage.  To learn this valuable information, Delilah attacks Samson at his weakest, most vulnerable point, his lack of discipline and lust for women.  Eventually, Delilah’s tears and feminine wiles weaken Samson’s defenses, he tells her the source of his strength, she cuts his hair and he is taken into slavery by the Philistines.

Satan will search for the source of your weakness to steal your strength.  He has a whole arsenal of “fiery darts” which he is constantly launching at us from every angle.  If they hit the “Shield of Faith” in one area, he will fire into another area of life.  Satan is constantly on the lookout, loaded and ready to fire at any sign of weakness. The enemy of our soul is not so concerned with attacking us in the areas we have overcome through the Blood of Jesus Christ, but he is very focused on attacking us with the things our flesh is still battling.  If he can successfully strike us at our weakest point, he can gain an advantage over our strengths and eventually take us captive. 

God has provided us with a strong defense that will protect us even at our weakest moments.  Prayer is our “game film,” through which the Holy Spirit can reveal our weaknesses and give us the necessary exercises to strengthen our commitment and desire for the things of God.  He forgives our past mistakes and teaches us how to overcome and avoid pitfalls.  Then because He is such a merciful and gracious God, He gives us another opportunity to get in the game.  The Word of God is our “game plan;” study it.  Studying, knowing and practicing the “game plan” is the best defense against the attack of Satan.  Through Prayer, the Word and the Blood of Jesus, Satan cannot steal our strength by searching out our weaknesses.

NIGHT VISION

The two most terrifying experiences for a child are being separated from a parent and darkness.  We understand the horror of finding yourself in a crowd of people and not seeing a familiar face, unaware that Mom is merely 2 steps to the right.  A terrified wail sounds an alarm and suddenly Mom is at your side, holding you close and drying your tears.  What about the darkness?  What makes shadows turn into monsters as the light fades?   It is all about clear vision.  As the night descends our ability to see things as they are, lessens.  The silhouette of a stuffed animal becomes a giant tiger, suddenly a breeze stirs a piece of clothing and it moves closer, every creak and bump is magnified until you are sure something is lurking directly under your bed.  Morning dawns, our vision is restored; the tiger becomes a “Beany Baby,” the monster, a shirt and you find there is nothing more menacing than a couple of “dust bunnies” under your bed.   If only we had Night Vision.

The terror by night doesn’t disappear with age, as adults we go through dark nights that sometime stretch into dark days.  It may be a sickness that has attacked your body.  Physicians have found that during an illness, symptoms are worse and seem to magnify during the nighttime.  Perhaps there is a situation in your life you are dealing with and it seems there is no solution.  It is so dark and you just wish someone would shine a small light your way.  You may find yourself struggling under a dark cloud of depression.  Not only do you fight the darkness but now a heavy load threatens to descend, crushing the life giving breath from your body.  You need Night Vision.

Our youngest son, Phil, was fascinated with gadgets.  We purchased our home in Saginaw, when he was 6 and the most exciting news he had to share with his teacher was “it had a garage door opener.”  So it was no surprise that when he got a little older he was sure his life would be awesome if he only had a pair of Night Vision Goggles.  I am sure his amazing imagination was going wild with all the adventures he could enjoy with goggles.  No, he never obtained a pair and his life has turned out pretty awesome without such an acquisition.  But stop and think…what if….What if during your darkest moment, God handed you a pair of Night Vision Goggles and you realized the tiger was just paper or the menacing noise was just wind blowing through the trees.  What if the night became as clear as the day?  What if we had Night Vision?

Very early, one morning, I was awake praying for a precious lady and her family, who are facing some dark nights and days.  God placed this series of scriptures on my heart to share and I realized that through Him we can have Night Vision.

Psalms 139:7-12 Where can I go from Your Spirit?  Or where can I flee from Your presence?
⁸ If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there.
⁹ If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
¹⁰ Even there Your hand shall lead me, And Your right hand shall hold me.
¹¹ If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall on me,” Even the night shall be light about me;
¹² Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, but the night shines as the day; the darkness and the light are both alike to You.

My spirit thrilled at verses 11 and 12, especially the last line, “The darkness and the light are both alike to You.”  What hope, what a Mighty God we serve; He even provides us with Night Vision Goggles!!!  Whatever situation you are facing, even if the wind is howling and the storm clouds are pressing down; when the darkness threatens to distort your vision, meditate on these words, “The darkness and the light are both alike to You.” Psalms 42:8 says, “In the night, His song shall be with me.”  So grab your Night Vision Goggles and start singing the “Song of the Lord.” It may begin as a far off twinkle but keep singing.  Soon you will find that the night has become “Light about you,” because “The darkness and the light are both alike to Him. God has given you Night Vision.

DIGGING A HOLE IN ADOBE

When you move into a pre-owned home, you also acquire most of the fixtures installed and left behind by the sellers; not so in a newly built house.  One of the fixtures we had come to depend on was a mailbox.  Although, we could live forever without “junk” mail and preferred to ignore the bills that usually arrive daily; we understood that Creditors would not accept our mailbox deficiency as an appropriate excuse for late payment.  After a trip to Home Depot, acquiring a beautiful poly mailbox, to match our siding and a hardwood post for an anchor, Steve grabbed the shovel, confident that we would be ready to receive mail within an hour.  There were a few facts, however, that we had forgotten to include in our planning.  The soil was clay, the month was July, the temperature was 90 and there had been no rain for several days….Exactly!!!  He was trying to dig a hole in a giant, baked, adobe brick.  After a couple days of digging, filling the “hole” with water, digging, water, digging, water, digging we were finally ready for the next mail run.

Sunday morning, I heard an awesome sermon entitled, “The Cost of Forgiveness” by Anthony Garcia. God’s timing is perfect and it was of course, exactly what I needed to hear.  I heard that still, small voice whisper instructions to my heart and I couldn’t wait to get home and obey.  Someone had said something on Saturday that cut and on Sunday, I was still hurting.  I knew I needed to address the situation, clean out the wound and stop the bleeding.  After corresponding with the person and making it “right,” I tried to go to the next step outlined in the sermon; I needed to “Grieve and Leave.” 

In his sermon, Anthony talked about acknowledging the hurt, taking time to grieve over it, then bury it and leave; MOVE ON!!!  The first 2 steps were easy!!!  I had no problem acknowledging the hurt; the wound was fresh and raw.  The grief seem to come naturally, I shed a few tears, allowed the anger to spill over, reasoned it all out, over and over and finally got the shovel out to dig a hole.  I hadn’t counted on the hardness of the soil.   After digging a couple of minutes, I laid the hurt to rest and smoothed the soil back into place.  Monday morning, the hurt had somehow pushed back to the surface and I realized the hole had to be deeper and it was going to take a lot more digging, some watering, more digging, watering and digging.  So here I am, on my knees, softening the soil of my heart with tears; handing the shovel back to God, I submit to His digging.

Sometimes we go through life enduring the heat of the day and experiencing a drought in our spirit.  We don’t realize how hard the soil of our heart has become until God hands us a shovel and says, “It’s time to dig.”  You may encounter some stubborn weeds, a few stones and tangled roots deep in the ground, left from previous wounds but keep digging.  Allow God to soften the soil with your tears, dig a little more and soon you will have soft, broken ground ready for seeds of love and forgiveness.

Hosea 10:12 Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.

WHY HUG WHEN YOU CAN TWEET!!!

This morning is my daughter-in-law’s birthday, so I posted a birthday wish on her Facebook page and posted how much we love her on my status update, for the entire world to see.  Hey don’t judge me, I also sent her a birthday card and a check!!!  Later, I sent an email to check on a sick friend, posted an encouraging Bible verse and texted a man to see if we could go up to the hospital and pray with him and his wife.  Surprised???  We are actually considering getting in our car, driving down the highway to a hospital and physically touching a person as we pray.  Sad, really how rare personal contact has become.

Most of us are becoming increasingly accustomed to a “Sterile Relationship” world.  Just log on to Facebook, you can know more about a person that you have never met, than you know about someone you have spent a lifetime with; that is unless you check out their Facebook page updates regularly.  I email a joke instead of sharing a cup of coffee and a good laugh.  I text a “good morning” rather than take the time to actually hear the voice of my loved one over the phone.  If I’m really pressed for time and still feel the need to express my thoughts, I can “Tweet” in 140 characters or less.  The real beauty of a “Cyber-hug,” it is totally germ-free, I don’t have to be personally involved and I only need to be interrupted at my convenience.

 Has my relationship with God morphed into a “Sterile, Cyber” relationship along with all the rest?  There are days when I am “encouraged” by an emailed devotional or a status update scripture posting when my soul is starving for a meal full of the “Meat of the Word.”  God is waiting with an overflowing basket of blessings for me to take time for a little chat but I tweet a 140- character prayer with my most “pressing” desires prioritized instead.  How ready I am to comment, “praying  for you” but never consider that maybe my best “prayer” could involve a little action; perhaps being the one through which God fills the need.  Now that’s a novel idea!  It’s much easier to email ((hugs)) than actually put my arms around a hurting person or post an emoticon with a tear rather than actually weep with those who weep.

The Bible tells us that Jesus WEPT, He was MOVED with compassion, He TOUCHED the sick and wounded; He WENT out of His way to SPEAK to a woman at the well or GIVE LIFE to the person in the funeral procession.  How different our Sunday School lessons would be if Jesus had “tweeted” life-giving water to the woman at the well or posted a word of encouragement to Blind Bartimaeus.   Sometimes loving people can get messy; ask the man who received spit-filled mud in his eyes or the disciples who had their nasty, stinky feet washed by the Master.  I want to break out of the “Sterile” world I have created for myself.  I want to touch more, hug often, give a genuine smile instead of an LOL and say “I LOVE YOU” face to face.  Most of all, I desire to feel the personal touch of my Savior as I take the time, sit at His feet, lay my head in His lap and linger in His presence.

DON'T WORRY, IT' SLOW RELEASE

We moved into our brand new home on December 1.  Having never lived in a newly built house, I was not prepared for the missing elements such as towel racks, toilet paper hangers, some light fixtures and a fire place mantel, that were constantly used but never given much thought. Another huge undertaking was a lawn, but that would have to wait until spring.  Between our procrastination and the landscaper’s scheduling, the lawn was not seeded until July….bad, bad planning, just in time for the summer drought.  We spent a fortune in diligently watering the sprouting seed and finally by October, we had a sparse lawn to enjoy.

 This year, with the spring rains and a couple of "Weed n Feed” applications, the lawn began to show signs of becoming what I had envisioned.  My husband believes in the idea that “More is better” and decided to fertilize on the first day of every month.  It was great until we came to the hot summer days of July.  So fearful of burning up all the progress we had made, I begged him not to spread the July application.  All I could imagine were crispy brown blades of grass that would soon be trampled into the dry parched soil.  Steve assured me my fears were unwarranted because this was “Slow-Release” fertilizer and would lie dormant on the soil beneath the grass until activated by a water source.  A week passed and the grass became a little less green.  The heavy dew of the night quickly dried in the morning sun before the cracked soil below could benefit.  Another week passed, my fears mounted until one morning I woke to the sound of an abundance of rain.  The rain continued all day, slowing to a gentle shower until finally ending the next evening.  Within 2 or 3 days the brilliant green returned, new sprouts appeared and bare spots were filled; the fertilizer had been activated as promised replenishing the soil’s dissipated nutrients.

There are days I revel in the new growth my spirit experiences.  God is so near, the blessings are overflowing and I’m sure I will never go through leanness again. But “summer” comes, the reserves dwindle and the ground becomes dry and cracked.  The little bit of dew I experience along the way just doesn’t last long enough in the hot winds of life to give any relief.   Sometimes I have questions; I wonder if God really knows what He is doing with this application; will I lose what little progress I have made since the last drought?  His gentle voice reassures my thirsty soul, “Do not fear, it is a slow-release treatment.  The rains will come and activate it in due season.”  So, I wait; my thirst becomes unbearable as I pray, search His Word for answers and listen patiently to the silence, until one day I wake to the sound of an abundance of rain. 

It may come as a gentle shower or a raging storm; begin as a few sprinkles and grow to a deluge, but the rain will come.  God is faithful and as surely as He gives us everything we need to accomplish His will, He will activate it with the necessary rain, at just the right time. You will begin to grow, the bare spots will fill in and the slow-release nutrients will be just what you needed for your next adventure in God.

HOW DO YOU PLAY CHURCH?

I was raised in a “Technology Deficient” era.  There were no computers, video games and “gasp” no internet.  Our mothers got their gossip the old fashioned way; they talked to neighbors over the back fence, on the front porch or used the black, “dial-up:” phone.  There was no “Children’s Programming” on television, cartoons were a Saturday morning treat and the NBC Peacock actually meant something; yep, the program would be in “Living Color.”  In addition to this pitiful lack in my childhood, my parents chose to NOT have a television at all.  That’s right, how did my mother raise 6 kids without Sesame Street, Mickey Mouse or Dora?  We played together!!!

PRETEND, was always a favorite.   We played “House,” of course I was the Mom and Mike was the Dad.  We played “Hospital,” “Library,” “Grocery Store” and “Church.”  Understand that anytime a child plays “Pretend,” they are simply emulating what they have seen or what they have experienced.  We were raised in a “boisterous” Pentecostal Church and that is exactly how we “played” church.  It was boisterous and happening; full of the Power of God.  Our congregation consisted of sisters, a brother, Catholic neighbors, Methodist “babysitting” kids, no-denomination cousins and whoever else happened to be visiting our home at the time.  I can just imagine the parents trying to figure out what these kids were doing when they tried to recreate all the fun they had with the Hawks kids.

How did we play church?  We “played” exactly what we experienced in “Real” church.  The chairs were set in congregation formation, there was a “pulpit” up front, and we had “hymn” books and Bibles, a song leader, prayer requests, testimonies and powerful sermons.  We clapped our hands during the singing, raised our hands during worship, anointed people and prayed for the sick.  There was no choreographed dancing, but we danced in the Spirit, we prayed for each other until we received the Holy Ghost and baptized one another in the swimming pool.  It may have been “pretend” to many but I am convinced it was precious to God and He was teaching us some valuable truths through it all.

Fast forwarding to 2013, I wonder how do our children and grandchildren play “Church.”  First we have to assume they are taken or at least sent to a church service.  The Barna Group reports that 1/3 of the adults polled had no attachment to church whatsoever so, how will their children “play church?”  Secondly, we must assume that the television and video games are quiet long enough to allow the minds of our children to work on their own.  Stats show that children are involved in some type of media for about 4 hours every day and 70% of children have a form of media in their bedrooms.  Our third assumption must be that the church service they attend has something to offer that captures the hearts and mind of our children.  Most of the time they are segregated into age-appropriate programs, so that parents don’t have to deal with them in the adult service.  How do you think we learned to “play church?”  We sang the hymns, worshipped with the adults, listened to the sermon and prayed at the altar.  Oh there were times when we and our frustrated parents paid a visit to the nursery for some necessary correction and I am sure other times Dad and Mom arrived home feeling they had been in a wrestling match instead of enjoying the presence of God.  It would have been easier to just stay home but they had some training to do and we needed to learn how to “play church.”

Back to my question, “How do our children play church?”  When you go back over your last church experience, “How do you play church?”  Are the songs just rhymes to a modern beat, a few announcements, offering (never forget the offering), a soothing sermon on how awesome your life should be, an altar invitation and hurry to the coffee shop in the lobby where you greet a few people and grab designer concoction for the ride home.  Where is the passion, the power, the life changing experience?  When was the last time you rejoiced with the old Brother as he gave his often repeated testimony of God’s saving grace?  When was the last time a need was brought before the entire congregation and together, you touched the Throne of God?  When was the last time you lingered with someone at an altar until they were done repenting and the power of the Holy Ghost consumed the group?  When was the last time our children came home so impacted by what they had witnessed that they felt compelled to reenact it over and over by “playing church?”  When is the last time you felt a desire to just stop your routine and “play church?”  How do you play church?

THE C S O D SYNDROME

In the 21st century, there is more medical knowledge, identified diseases, cures and treatments than at any time in history.  Even then, a condition will suddenly materialize that baffles the best minds in the medical world.  Every test comes back negative, yet the symptoms persist and we have what has become known as a “SYNDROME.”  According to the dictionary a “syndrome” is a group of symptoms that collectively indicate or characterize a disease, psychological disorder, or other abnormal condition; a concurrence of symptoms.  I have noticed lately, such a malady beginning to infect the Church.  In talking with other Pastors and Christians, it is not just a localized problem but is so widespread; it could almost be called an epidemic.  There is no reason for the church to be suffering, the tests are coming back negative, we still meet regularly, still believe in God, still preach out of the Bible but collectively, the symptoms indicate a condition I am calling C S O D SYNDROME!  COMPLACENCY, SUPPRESSION, OPPRESSION, & DEPRESSION!!!

To understand this condition better, we will take a journey way back in time to the land of Egypt.  Every Sunday School child has heard the story of Joseph, how his jealous brothers sold him into slavery and how God elevated him to second in command in Egypt.  We know the story of Pharaoh’s dream, Joseph’s interpretation of the 7 years of plenty and 7 lean years that would come upon the land.  Joseph was given the command to set up a plan for the 7 lean years, so that there would be plenty of food in Egypt.  The famine spread to Canaan where Joseph’s father and brothers still lived and they decided to journey to Egypt to buy food, not knowing that their brother, Joseph was not only alive but the overseer of all the “storehouse” of Egypt.  Eventually, Joseph revealed himself to his brothers and moved their families and his father to Goshen in Egypt.  That is when the “Syndrome” began.

The Bible records that Jacob lived in the land of Goshen for 17 years, yet Pharaoh’s dream contained only 7 Lean Years.  For at least 10 years there was no need to stay in a foreign country but it seems that Jacob, his sons and their families had settled in; they become comfortable with their situation and began to prosper.  Realizing that his life was coming to an end, Jacob did not want to be buried in a strange land and made his sons promise to take him back to Canaan to be buried with his people.  Joseph approached the Pharaoh for permission to make the journey and he promised to come back.  WHY???  There is no record that Pharaoh had made a return part of the condition for allowing Joseph to leave; that was voluntary on Joseph’s part.  Perhaps it was because he had position or a wife in Egypt, but why did his brothers also return?  Genesis 50 records that they left their little ones, flocks and herds in the land of Goshen. Joseph’s family returned because they had left their most precious possessions in a foreign country; they had become satisfied and COMPLACENT.

Fast forward a few years, Joseph dies and Exodus 1:8-10, tells us, Now there arose a new king over Egypt, who did not know Joseph. ⁹ And he said to his people, “Look, the people of the children of Israel are more and mightier than we; ¹⁰ come, let us deal shrewdly with them, lest they multiply, and it happen, in the event of war, that they also join our enemies and fight against us, and so go up out of the land.”  The Bible does not tell us that the Egyptians ever “conquered” the Israelites during this time.  In fact, the Egyptians were frightened that the Israelites were becoming so mighty that they would be conquered.  Because of their complacency, the Israelites allowed the enemy to move in and take over; SUPPRESSION began.  Once the enemy gained an advantage, SUPPRESSION quickly moved to OPPRESSION and the Israelites found themselves in bondage without a fight or even a skirmish.

Exodus 1:11-14 Therefore they set taskmasters over them to afflict them with their burdens. And they built for Pharaoh supply cities, Pithom and Raamses. ¹² But the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew. And they were in dread of the children of Israel. ¹³ So the Egyptians made the children of Israel serve with rigor. ¹⁴ And they made their lives bitter with hard bondage—in mortar, in brick, and in all manner of service in the field. All their service in which they made them serve was with rigor.

Here we begin to see evidence of the last symptom of our syndrome, DEPRESSION.  Depression is a state of feeling sad, dejection; a loss of hope.  In their depressed state, the Israelites could not see what the Egyptians had noticed; they were multiplying and becoming a mighty nation.  The bible tells us that “the more they afflicted them, the more they multiplied and grew.”  The Children of Israel had a full blown case of  C S O D SNYDROME.  They had become COMPLACENT which allowed the enemy to SUPPRESS AND OPPRESS them, leading to such a deep DEPRESSION, they had forgotten that they were the Chosen People of Jehovah.

Satan has no right to SUPPRESS AND OPPRESS the Church AND he cannot unless in a state of COMPLACENCY, we allow him to set up camp in our midst.  We have become SATISFIED,  TOLERANT and ACCEPTING; content to live in a foreign land because we are prosperous.  It is time for the Church to arise; to realize she IS the Bride of Christ.  We are His Chosen People; People of the Name; purchased with His precious blood.  We have no reason to become DEPRESSED for “Greater is He that is in us, than he that is in the world.”  We have a Deliverer who is greater than Moses and He has equipped us to fight and conquer the enemy.  Daniel 11 reminds us, “but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.” 

REFUSE to become a victim of C S O D!!!!  Romans 8:37, Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

THAT WOULD BE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY

The Niswonger Grandkid’s Camp – 2013 was exciting and full of activities.  One of the most highly anticipated activities was painting the fort that Grandpa and the Grandkids were building.  Holding 4-year old Anabel’s hand as we walked toward the garage, I listened to her chatter excitedly about painting her panels.  I told her I had bought pink paint especially for her and I also had green, blue, white, yellow and orange.  Suddenly, Anabel looked up at me with her sparkling blue eyes and said, “I love pink, it is my favorite but if I had orange that would be a great opportunity.”

Most of the time we are so focused on what we don’t have, what is missing, or what is happening that we ignore the “great opportunities” around us each day.    God provides us with the pink paint and when he includes the orange, just because He’s God, we throw up our hands in frustration and ask, “What am I supposed to do with this?”  Or maybe it just isn't the combination you wanted.  I am sure Joseph was all excited about his future when God gave him dreams but the excitement waned when he realized God had thrown a little “orange” in the mix.  A foreign land, slavery and prison were not a combination he wanted in his dream.  Joseph would have spent the rest of his years rotting in prison; full of self-pity if he had not recognized the “great opportunity” God was sending his way.  The “pink” and “orange” were a God-given ticket to the palace.

As you reflect on your dreams and goals, perhaps all of the “orange” is overpowering the small smear of “pink” on your masterpiece.  It wasn’t the combination you had envisioned and it seems you will never accomplish anything with the colors you’ve been given.  Remember, God has always had a plan for your life and He will never give you a color that He can’t work with.  He wants to show you the “great opportunity” that He is providing.  Dip your brush in the paint and allow God to guide you into your future.

SATAN'S CLOAKING DEVICE

From 1966-1969 a television series captured the imagination of every little boy and my husband was no exception.  Yes, Steve is a “Trekkie, not one of those crazy, dress in weird costumes with pointy ears fans; but a “Trekkie” that still enjoys Star Trek movies and science fiction in general.  I have to admit, although not an aficionado like Steve, I do enjoy a Star Trek flick every once in a while; not for the conflict but for the technology, that in the 60’s one could only dream of having.  Today some of that technology has become a reality.  Not one of us will leave home without our “communicator” in our pocket, purse or attached to our ear.  “Phasers” have become standard issue for law enforcement.  The “command center” in my car can map my destination, call a friend, has a juke box loaded with mp3s, can give me weather alerts and check my automobile’s systems as I drive.  We all carry our “PADDS” and interface with friends and loved ones continually in real time.  The technology that I found most fascinating, however, was the “Transporter.”   Yesterday, a breakthrough in transportation was announced called High Speed Travel Tubes that could possibly allow you to travel from NY to Beijing in 2 hours.  Is there no limit to what the human mind came develop if allowed to dream?  My great-grandchildren will laugh as they climb into Travel Tubes, at how in the “olden” days, people had to travel in jets that took hours to go across the ocean.

Back to Star Trek….The Federation patrolled the area where “no man had gone before,” in the Starship, Enterprise.  There were always scoundrels and terrorists to be on the lookout for and sometime engage with in a skirmish to keep the inhabitants of various worlds safe.  The Romulans were one of the chief adversaries of the Federation.  The Romulans developed “Cloaking” technology and shared it with the Klingons, another Federation enemy.  This technology allowed them to close in on the Federation starship without detection.   The problem with using the cloaking device is that they could not use their weapons at the same time which gave the Federation an edge with its weapons and shields. By the end of each episode, the Federation had prevailed and the Klingons or Romulans were sent back to plot and plan for another day.

Now that you are well-versed in Star Trek lore, how does this apply to our life?  We have an adversary who is constantly attacking and finding new ways to come against the People of God.    1 Peter 5:8 identifies this adversary; “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour:”  Our adversary, the devil, slinks around, sometimes he mounts a full frontal attack and other times he is a coward, blindsiding his prey and attacking from behind.  Most times, however, he dons his “cloaking device” and appears as an “angel of light.”  Suddenly, you realize that he has slipped in unaware and a skirmish is about to ensue.

2 Corinthians 11:13-14 describes Satan and his soldiers as they prepare for battle, fully “cloaked.”  13 “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.  ¹⁴ And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.”  Remember the Star Trek example; using the cloaking device causes other weapons to become less effective.  Satan is not invincible and the People of God are not without powerful weapons and shields.

2 Corinthians 2:11 tells us that “We are not ignorant of Satan’s devices.”  We just need to have our strategy planned and our weapons powered up and ready.  Our most powerful weapon is our Conquering Leader and His orders have been handed down; Ephesians 6:10-11 “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.”  REPORTING FOR DUTY!!!!

 God has a whole arsenal of powerful weapons at our disposal. Buckle on the Belt of Truth, slip your arms through the Breastplate of Righteousness, tie the laces of the Preparation of the Gospel of Peace nice and tight on your feet, and put the Helmet of Salvation on your head; left hand, the Shield of Faith; right hand, the Sword of the Spirit.  NOW….you are ARMED and READY!!!

Ephesians 6:14-17 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; ¹⁵ And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;   ¹⁶ Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.¹⁷ And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

Satan can bring on his best battle plan, the People of God will prevail.  2 Corinthians 10:4  For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds.  I can guarantee that if the weapons of our warfare can pull down strong holds, they can penetrate Satan’s “cloaking device.”  We can stand strong and confident in our Leader and His arsenal.  It is time to send Satan fleeing with his impotent army; we are the People of God!!!