The Heavens Declare

We gather for celebration; aunts, uncles, cousins.  It is not always the case. At times we must gather to mourn the loss of a loved one who passes. It is fun that a birthday is the reason we are together.

I love  these family times. Many miles separate us, so they are few.

We tell stories. I am sure that they tire of some of mine. They are repeats, stories that I love to hear again and again, so I welcome a captive audience. They are patient with me.

We talk about those we miss. We are celebrating, but we spend a bit of time lamenting.

We remember Grandma Terry's final days. We all miss her, our beautiful matriarch.

I share a favorite. Grandma told me that she danced with Jesus. I went to visit her in the hospital a week or so before she died and she told me that she and Jesus had danced, "Right there!" she said pointing to the center of the room. "You haven't been out of your hospital bed, Grandma," I gently remind her. "But I was! Right there! We twirled round and round and round again! It was wonderful!" Her face was glowing; I believe! They believe with me.

Mom tells a story. As she was leaving the hospital after Grandma passed, she looked up and there was a cross in the sky created by two intersecting jet streams."I  felt like mom was telling me that everything was going to be okay," she shares.

  The morning after the birthday bash, our family gathers for church. We are going to worship together for the first time in a very long time. On our way into the sanctuary, I look up and see a cross in the sky created by two jet streams just like the one my mom talked about the night before. 


"Grandma?" 


Was she joining us somehow? Dancing over us? Whispering,  "everything will be okay . . ." Smiling that beautiful smile with a twinkle in her eye? 

Or was it just a hug from God that could be felt?

Either way, I'm basking in the love.

"The heavens declare the glory of God, And the firmament shows His handiwork." Psalm 19:1 NKJV

We feed the birds. We love to hear them sing praises. Exalted happiness! Our feathered friends gather in their choir loft we call a balcony. Let all creation sing!

Peter was very sure of himself.

His love for Jesus was immeasurable.

He knew that HE (Peter) would NEVER forsake Him (Jesus).

Impossible!

Jesus made it clear that Peter would stumble . . . horribly.

Oh, the pain of it for both of them!

I have heard it taught that Peter was so full of pride that he needed a good humbling. It is true that a good crushing of self will often reduce us, face down, and Peter was greatly humbled through this experience. 

I think Peter loved Jesus so much that he believed that love had the power to keep him from failing Him. 

It isn't our love for Jesus that is able to keep us from falling . . . it is His grace. 

"And the Lord said, 'Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat, But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren."

A few thoughts:

The Lord must have given Satan permission to sift Peter. Does that scare you? It does me a little. I don't like the thought of being in the hands of the enemy.We can trust Jesus. He will use this dance with the devil for, not only Peter's good, but for others as well.  Peter's immense love for Christ would not be enough to prevent the sifting. It was destined.

Jesus prayed for Peter. This fact gives me HOPE!

He did not pray that Peter would not fail, He prayed that Peter's faith would not fail. 

Jesus knew that Peter would return to Him. He would give Peter the grace to return.

He gave Peter a command . . . 

"When you come back to me, strengthen others."

My paraphrase, "A transformation is about to take place in your heart. When you come out of the furnace you will have understanding that you lacked before you went in. Share the message . . . it will make others stronger and will help them endure when it is their turn. This part of your walk . . . this stumbling is part of your testimony. It will be used for good! I will see to that . . . if you are willing to share."

Perhaps the reason Peter had to have this experience is so that we could be strengthened. 

What is your story? Do you suppose that someone else might need to hear it? I don't like telling mine either, but I will if it will help you, my friend. Would you like to come by for tea? I would love to chat with you.

"Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy, To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen." Jude 24-25 NKJV

  

I'm warming up my life with a new read.

You won't believe me when I tell you this. We have lived here since the end of July and yesterday was the very first time that I entered a bookstore of any kind in this town. It takes great restraint! They are all around me, some within a mile from my apartment.

I have told myself that I need to catch up on all of the reading that I have to do before I purchase any more books. I have been reading, not buying!

I drove past a Lifeway store yesterday which I have driven by many times, but yesterday I felt a nudge. I tried to ignore it, but it lingered. I knew that I was supposed to "do a legal u-turn" as my gps would say and take myself back to the bookstore. 

Once inside I wandered the isles forever . . . picked up a half dozen things, returned them to their shelves . . . finally, I whispered prayer, "Lord, why am I here?" 

Two minutes later I spotted this:

I don't know how to describe to you what I felt when I picked up this book. I knew that it was the reason for my u-turn. It is what I need in my life right now that will help me make some spiritual u-turns. 

 "10 Weeks of Devotional Prayer" . . . 


 

 Our meeting place.

My favorite quote from this morning . . . one of many that I could share . . . 

"Remember, the only thing whiter than snow is a freshly cleansed child of God." (Psalm 51:7) Beth Moore

Lovely!

Perhaps you would like to join me on this prayer journey? With you arm in arm! Would love to hear your thoughts!

"In everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." Philippians 4:6




 

         "What would you do if you knew you could not fail?"

I am not sure who asked the question but I have heard it a few times. 

            What would you do?

           Climb Mount Everest

                  Start a Business

            Run a Marathon

My daughter-in-love wants  to run a marathon someday. It is a goal she has set for herself. Her grandpa has ran over 30 of them. Wow!

She has not started running yet. I want to help her reach her goal. There is a park within walking distance of our apartment that is complete with running trails. She could begin there. She could set her goals now,  we could make a schedule (she will need a sitter), she could begin by running short distances. 

She knows she can do it. She has perfect confidence. Her grandpa has demonstrated to her that it is a possible feat! He has been a trailblazer of sorts. He has given her a gift. Not by making it look easy, but by making it look attainable. 

Isn't that what we really need to be successful? A coach? Team spirit? And hey, cheerleaders are soooooo important! 

Isn't that what discipleship is all about? Not necessarily making our walk with Christ look easy, but doable? 

Even with all of that, we need lots and lots of grace to make it to the finish line. 

Your thoughts?

 ^" Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!" Hebrews 12:1-2 the Message Bible

"There was one thing that my dad did for me that helped me get to where I am today. Every evening at dinner he would ask us, 'What have you failed at today?' He would be disappointed if we hadn't failed at something. If we had experienced failure that day, he would high five us." Sara  Blakely, creator of Spanx

Sara Blakely is the world's youngest female self-made billionaire. 

Her secret?

She is not intimidated by failure.

 Her story is impressive. Her dad is the most impressive!

He taught his children that it is common to experience failure on the road to success. And it's okay! His idea was that if you weren't experiencing failure, you weren't reaching high enough. You were not trying. He would tell his children, "If you are not failing, you are not trying."

I hate to fail! I have a horrible relationship with it. I am not good at falling down, brushing off the dust a good fall brings, and moving on to do better or do something else. That is why I am not a billionaire! 

I wish I had heard this story a long time ago . . . like when I was five. It might have changed how I perceive failure.  And I would have taught my children to embrace the times that they fail . . . I might have even encouraged it. 

Isn't it interesting that the lady who grew up in an environment where failure is not a bad thing, where it is encouraged, created something that covers flaws? Something that will take out the humps and bumps and make us look smooth and shapely. Flab-u-less! God bless her! 

What does the Lord think of failure?

He knows that we will have them. 

He is tender.

He is patient.

He is loving.

He forgives.

He wants us to try again.

He knew from the beginning that we would need mercy every single day of our lives, so He provides it. Do you need it this morning? I know that I do. It is available because . . .

that is the kind of Father that He is. Great is His faithfulness!

"The Lord is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy." Psalm 103:8 NKJV

"I am so happy that you are getting to enjoy the babies. The happiest times of my life were when your kids were growing up." 

My mom said that to me the other day. 

We decided to move to Kentucky when we realized our grandbabies were going to move here. We weren't getting to see them much and we were aching to hear their first words and see them take their first steps. 

This would be very hard for my mom and I knew it. Heartwrenching! I despised that part of it. 

When we finally got the nerve to tell her about our decision to move, her reaction to our news totally surprised me! "That's wonderful!" her words were wrapped in genuine happiness. 

She could have made us feel so guilty. She could have asked, "What about me?" She never did.

Her unselfishness has been a huge blessing to me. I know that she is missing me, but she feels so happy for me that it dulls the pain of her loneliness. 

I am so proud of her. She is a very busy woman . . . leading Bible study, taking college classes, helping with a ministry in the community, helping at church. She is not sitting home feeling sorry for herself . . . she is letting her light shine and making a difference for so many people. 

I want the whole world to hear me when I say, "Thank you, Mom! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! Your willingness to let me go has demonstrated your sincere love for me in a way that I will never forget! That is a legacy I hope to pass along."
  
"Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God, and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love." 1 John 4:7-8