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.

WHEN A HUG ISN'T ENOUGH

My prayer list has grown to include my neighbor who just found out he has colon cancer, a friend from MN who is having surgery to remove a benign brain tumor, a sweet lady from church is having back surgery and my precious granddaughter, Anabel who is currently in surgery having her tonsils and adenoids removed.  As I prayed, a peace flooded my heart and the presence of the Lord surrounded me; “Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus.”

When my children were afraid, had to deal with a problem or were troubled, it wasn’t enough to just hug them and send them on their way.  Oh they received the hug but we also talked.  I gave them words of instruction, encouragement and an offer of my strength.  God is just like that.  He doesn’t just hold us in His arms but if we open up His Word and listen, he will instruct, encourage and offer His strength for any situation.

After praying this morning, I opened my Bible to Psalm121

I will lift up my eyes to the hills—from whence comes my help?
² My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.

³ He will not allow your foot to be moved; He who keeps you will not slumber.
⁴ Behold, He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.

⁵ The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade at your right hand.
⁶ The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night.

⁷ The Lord shall preserve you from all evil; He shall preserve your soul.
⁸ The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in from this time forth, and even forevermore.

What a comfort to know that my help comes from the One who made heaven and earth.  You can’t get any more powerful than that.  God is on “the job” 24/7.  When I’m asleep, He is wide awake and when life becomes too “hot to handle” the Lord is my shade.  When I am overwhelmed and can’t tell whether I’m “coming or going,” God is not confused at all. Verse 8 tells me He will preserve my going out and coming in now and forever.  Is it any wonder why I love Him?  What a friend; What a Mighty God.

STILL IN THE RACE

Our years are comprised of a lifetime of seasons; spring, summer, autumn and winter.  Every season is full of success, drama, crisis, failure and hope; hope that the next season will be better than the last.  During “Spring,” we are invincible; the “world is our oyster;” whatever that means. Nothing is impossible if we are willing to go get it.  As we move into “Summer,” reality sets in, our dreams mature and we begin to fill our trophy case with accomplishments.  Oh sure, we let go of some dreams but so many still await us, just over the horizon.  “Autumn” brings a “midlife crisis.”  Our trophy case looks a bit empty and some of the trophies have become a bit tarnished.  We begin to realize that the trophies of some dreams have been won by another and will never fill our case, so we get a tattoo, buy a Harley or go Zip Lining to remind ourselves and our world, “we’ve still got it.”  It is the “Winter” that brings peace.  Life slows down and we begin to reflect on the things that were. The unrealized dreams fade in their importance and we realize that the trophies are just reminders of the Legacy of our Life. 

I began to examine my own Trophy Case.  As I loving held each trophy, the memories flooded my mind.  Oh the feeling of accomplishment, as I accepted this one.  The hard work that went into receiving that one; oh yah, girl, you certainly earned that one.  I moved down the shelf and pulled out 2^nd and 3^rd place awards.  I put forth just as much effort for these but the memories weren’t quite as sweet.  I still heard my name called, stood on the stand, and still received an award; I just hadn’t been able to accomplish all that I desired.  Then I spied the most precious trophy in my collection.

Way in the back, practically unnoticed and a little tarnished sits a small trophy.  The engraved plaque reads simply, “PARTICIPATION.”  The others represent accomplishments and fulfilled dreams but this small award is my Legacy.  I haven’t always been in first place but I’M STILL IN THE RACE.  I may have stumbled, taken a wrong turn or stopped to get my second wind along the way, but I’M STILL IN THE RACE.  I can’t quite see the Finish Line yet, but I hear the cheers from a “great crowd of witnesses” and I’M STILL IN THE RACE.

The Apostle Paul gives us a glimpse into his “Trophy Case” in 2 Timothy 4:6-7 “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. ⁷ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

What a Legacy.  Paul had no way of knowing that over 2,000 years later his simple words in a letter to his beloved Timothy would live on to encourage and spur millions toward the finish line.  The trophy may read simply, “PARTICIPATION” but look closely and you will see a few battle scars from the fight and a few scrapes from stumbling along the route.  Your lungs may be screaming for air and your muscles may have expended all their energy but your faith stands strong and you are STILL IN THE RACE.  The trophy is just a memento but Paul reminds all who participate and finish of the real award in verse 8,  ^“Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”  

Don’t stop now, keep running!  We can all be 1^st Place winners and a Crown of Righteousness waits, if you STAY IN THE RACE!!! 

TO WHOM SHALL WE GO?

During this time of remembering Jesus’ death and celebrating His resurrection, we often want to give the crucifixion honorable mention and quickly move to the victory of the empty tomb. When we allow ourselves to pause and consider the pain and agony of His death, it is hard to get pass the horror of the physical torture that Jesus suffered for us. But what about the mental agony of “He who knew no sin”, bearing our sins? Consider His anguish as the One who “so loved the world” looked down from the cross and saw only a handful of followers watching from afar. After 3 1/2 years of preaching, miracles and sacrifice, was this His entire congregation? Had they gone in search of a more exciting program, a more dynamic speaker or a more “seeker-friendly” message? What had happened to the multitudes that came for the loaves and fishes?

The beginning of the exodus of Jesus’ followers is recorded in John 6:66-68. “From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life.” Jesus could continue His ministry with the assurance that there would always be His mother and at least 12 men or 11 since as God; He knew Judas would betray Him. Jesus could always depend on Peter. It was Peter who recognized that Jesus was the Son of the Living God. Peter who said, “I have no other place to go.” We hear from Peter again assuring Jesus that he would “NEVER deny Him.” The same Peter who was given the Keys to the Kingdom. Now, jump ahead to “Trial Day” and where is Peter? We find him outside with the other spectators loudly proclaiming, “Don’t look at me, I don’t know Him.”

Jesus looks down from the cross expecting to see some of the 5,000 that were fed from a little boys lunch, or maybe Blind Bartemaeus, surely at least 1 of the 10 lepers would come to mourn, John 19:25-26 explains Jesus’ view from the cross, “Now there stood by the cross of Jesus his mother, and his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Cleophas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus therefore saw his mother, and the disciple standing by, whom he loved, he saith unto his mother, Woman, behold thy son!"  Only 4 people? During His final hour, Jesus had more accusers than followers. The loneliness must have been overwhelming.

Would I have been at the foot of the cross? Like Peter, I assure myself that I would never leave, where else would I go, He has the words of eternal life. But what happens when life gets tough, when my plans and dreams get shattered, when it seems there is no harvest after years of sowing seed and watering tender plants? Am I like Peter standing afar off warming his hands or do you find me kneeling with John and the 3 women; faithful to the end? Lord, I want to be a Simon of Cyrene carrying your cross or a Joseph of Arimathaea, ministering to your Body. In the good times and bad, during harvest or famine, whether it rains or the sun shines, “To whom shall I go, You have the Words of Eternal life.”