A New Year. A New View.

 A new year. A new view.  

Literally. 

Since I handed over my office to hubby when he came home to work in April, I moved my makeshift office to our living room, then more recently to an upstairs guestroom. On New Year's Eve, I decided to move my portable office to our bedroom. Now my card table with laptop, writing and teaching materials, sits in front of a window facing our back woods. 

Already I've witnessed squirrels at play, a beautiful display of fireworks, a coyote ambling through on his way to who knows where, Woody Woodpecker and his smaller cousins, plus a host of other bird varieties, and a rainbow. I thought I'd feel a bit cloistered in my new location. Not yet, anyway. Not with such an amazing view. 

That simple switch reminds me that my view, my perspective, on life will be what I choose to make it in this new year. 

Many say they are relieved to close the curtain on 2020 with all its trials and chaos, that perhaps things will be different, take a decided turn for the better. 

Maybe. "Hope springs eternal," Alexander Pope once wrote. 

Yet, in reality, I don't anticipate things getting better, not culturally anyway. But that needn't influence my internal view. I like to call it an eternal view. 

It's exciting as a believer in Christ to realize that God's timetable is playing out. That we are closer than ever to Jesus' return. 

"Come, Lord Jesus, come!"

Today would be great.

Still, I know there are so many yet to enter into God's mercy, grace, and eternal life provided through Jesus Christ.

So, I pray for God's help as I share Him with those I encounter daily. That He would turn their hearts toward Home. 

As I return to 1 Corinthians for my personal study and time with Jesus, I'm reminded that "'no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him,' but God has revealed it to us by his Spirit" (1 Cor. 2:9-10 NIV).

Thank You, God, for revealing Your wisdom of the gospel through Your Spirit to hearts who have received You.

My heart is one of them. And while I don't know every nuance of what You have prepared for Your people, for me, I know what You have revealed through Your Word.

And it is overwhelmingly good stuff! Even now before heaven.

According to Ephesians, chapter one, we're already positionally seated in the heavenlies with You, chosen, holy, forgiven, the praise of Your glory, given peace, lavished upon by the riches of Your grace (I love this one), sealed by Your Spirit until we see You face to face and live forever in Your presence. 

Your presence . . . 

It is enough just knowing I will finally be with You in person. Whatever bells and whistles heaven provides otherwise is do-da in light of seeing You at last. 

I love you, Lord, and even now in my imagination, I see myself kneeling at Your feet, Your hand in mine, kissing Your hand, thanking You for saving me, bringing me safely Home. Then you lift my head, cup my face in Your hands, and with the beam of Your smile brighter than anything I've ever experienced, You lift me up, and I stand as a joint-heir with You. Without you saying anything, I know this is true. Your confidence surges through me in that moment . . . 

"You are my glory, and the lifter of my head," David reminds me in Psalm 3:3.

"I am my Beloved's and he is mine," as Chuck and I have delved deeply into since early September with our methodical, rich and sweet time in the Song of Solomon. How that love letter from God has nourished our couple relationship and our individual relationships with Jesus. What a precious poetic call to slow down, take time and care with these vital relationships. 

So, yes, the view out my window is fun, even spectacular at times, but it can't compare to what God in Christ has accomplished in my heart and the plan He has for my future with Him. 

This God-given view creates hope that does indeed spring eternal! For me, and all who take hold of life in Christ, that eternal view will make 2021 worth living. 

Not Locked in Fear, Liberated by His Spirit!

It is good for the heart to be strengthened by grace . . . 

Not locked in fear, but liberated by His Spirit!  

Lots of thoughts have passed through my noggin lately. I suspect that has been true for you as well.

As I filter those thoughts through God's Word, He reaffirms again the power of prayer in the lives of Old Testament saints, like Daniel, New Testament saints, like Paul, and contemporary saints like us (those who have received Jesus as Savior and Lord)! 

This morning, He reaffirmed in my heart Paul's charge to young Timothy . . . 

"First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, in order that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony borne at the proper time" (I Timothy 2:1-6).

Notice how many times the word "all" appears in this passage. I'm especially struck with the reminder that God desires ALL men to be saved. I feel the Holy Spirit's gentle rebuke with His recurring question: "Eileen, are you more interested in praying that God would thwart evil or that He would change hearts? After all, the remedy for evil is heart transformation. Pray for those you are concerned about, that they will come to the knowledge of the truth and be saved."  

And then the even more pointed reminder . . . 

"If I can change a rebellious heart like yours, I can change the hearts of leaders and those in your sphere of influence who in your eyes seem so far beyond My reach." 

Which takes me back to Paul's reminder to pray. 

Our role is to pray (with thanksgiving, by the way), participating with our Father in gently guiding others to the truth in word and behavior, as did so many others who came before us. 

Old Testament Daniel modeled prayer and faithful service while living in a pagan culture. His faithful daily prayers paved the way for a pagan King, all wrapped up in his own glory, to come to the knowledge of the truth.

If God can reduce wicked Nebuchadnezzar to all fours so that ultimately he lifts his eyes toward heaven, not in pomp and pride but in humility, and declares that the LORD alone is the Most High God who is great and mighty, whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdom and whose dominion is from generation to generation (Daniel, chapter four), then God can in His sovereignty change the hearts of all for whom we pray. The change may come now, in our lifetimes; the change may not come until we gather around His throne. 

But rest assured, ALL will fall before Him and declare Him Lord (Philippians 2:9-11). We pray and we witness so that as many people as possible will declare Him Lord and serve Him as Lord on this side of heaven. 

May we not be locked in fear that erupts in our minds in multiple forms but liberated by the Holy Spirit who through God's Word grounds us, quiets our hearts, and motivates us to prayer and godly living.

May you who know the Lord be strengthened by His grace today. And those of you who need the Lord, surrender to Him in repentance and faith, receiving Him as your personal Savior from sin and self, and then serve Him as Lord. Then He will strengthen you with His grace, deliver you from all fear, and liberate your heart with His Spirit who comes to live inside of you.     

Eileen Psalm 46:10

Breakfast for Jesus

 

Courtesy of Pexels, Valeria Boltneva 

My husband’s early morning prayer meeting at our home brought one young man to our door. Intense spiritual warfare threatened him and his family. While my husband prayed with him downstairs, I prayed for them upstairs. 

As I interceded, the Holy Spirit prompted me to fix them breakfast. A sudden awareness flashed across my mind that the breakfast I would prepare was first and foremost for Jesus, not for the two men who knelt by our sofa. 

Never had I experienced more clarity concerning the truth of Colossians 3:23: “Whatever you do, do your work heartily, as for the Lord rather than for men” (NASB). 

So many times I’d served others with abandon, but when it came to my husband, I grumbled and hesitated. I pushed from the floor with joy as I prepared and served eggs, sausage, and smoothies to “Jesus” that quiet Saturday morning.

 

Home Alone? A Wife Grows Up During COVID

 

I admit it, I was spoiled. An introvert, I’d grown content after 14 years of working at home alone as a freelance writer, author, and creative writing tutor. I had my system down. Carrot juice in hand (yeah, no coffee for this writer gal), I’d shuffle off to my separate office after I kissed hubby Chuck, sending him off and out of the house to counsel clients at his group office.

Then COVID-19 hit and sent the proverbial best-laid plans of mice and men scurrying out the door, too. Home alone quickly morphed into two at home when Chuck started conducting teletherapy at home fulltime. Sacrificial wife that I am, I gave up my office and set up a card table in the living room for the laptop while Chuck used the desktop for sessions in a quiet, confidential space where the door could be closed.

And thus, it was. A closed door to my space. The one I had taken for granted yet soon realized I cherished.  

Still, I rallied my spirit around a new plan with resolve to make the best of things, which meant helping Chuck set up a new workspace with books and other resources carted from his group office. It required megadoses of patience as I guided him through the technological challenges of teletherapy, sometimes at the most inopportune moments, while I also mastered Zoom for student sessions. A learning curve for both of us, but since I’d learned a few things from my techy kids over the years, I was able to assist. Thankfully. Though I didn’t always view it with gratitude. Never mind that my grown children had patiently tutored me multiple times as I learned how to use Word processing, navigate the web, and diagnose computer issues.   

Enter negative and sinful behavior patterns that I knew existed, but I’d never fully dealt with. Under the careful tutelage of the Holy Spirit, I detected areas, one by one, that needed attention. For years, Chuck had insisted that those we discipled needed some practical way to measure growth. The professional counselor speaking, after all. Why not try a measurement system myself? So, I asked Chuck to join me in prayer as I sought the Lord.

Call it readiness, disgust with myself, desperation, old age (well, older), or all the above, but I seemed ripe for some solid spiritual formation. What emerged was a journaling exercise that I’m still doing. I’m now on my third refining area with a prayer, a serious prayer, to become more like my Jesus, my Savior and Lord, but also my gentle, humble Teacher.

The specific daily journaling over a three-week period (I advise at least that amount of time) on one growth area has helped me see how well I’m doing listening, trusting, and obeying my Teacher. A brief note for each day indicates the trigger situation and/or person and my response to the trigger, whether good or bad. The exercise provides its own form of accountability, but I’ve also alerted my special women prayer warriors to lift me up to the Throne as I work with the Holy Spirit in each area.

Psalm 46:10, “Be still and know that I am God” has powered me through many pivotal choice moments when the scales could tip either way (obey or disobey). The reminder brings pause, a spiritual breather, if not a physical and emotional one as well. God assures me in that moment that I can trust Him even when things seem out of control for this obsessive-compulsive-prone gal. Rather than react—blurt out whatever’s in my head—I grow quiet, even if only for a few moments to consider a godly response.

The happy news—Chuck says I’m making progress in my journaled areas! Since we are pretty much together 24/7, his is the feedback I desire the most. After all, we are the most real with the people we live with. My love and respect toward my husband are the true indicators of how well I really love and respect my Lord. That’s painful to hear, but so necessary for growth. I’m learning in a deeper way that submitting to the discipline of the Lord really does produce the peaceful fruit of right living, especially with the one closest to me, my spouse.   

Home alone? Yeah, nice, has its perks. But I think I’m finally growing up, which is the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. And having extra laundry and yard help isn’t a bad perk, either.

 

Where are the Sounds of Children?

On a neighborhood mid-morning walk, it dawned on me that other than cheery birds carrying on, it was all too quiet. Normally, I would appreciate the stillness. Time to refresh and reflect.

But on that day, I just got sad. Where were the sounds of children playing in their back yards?

I suppose in part that's why my two hours at my daughter's house that afternoon was so special--their back yard was alive with kid activity (with neighbor kids included)! Bikes flying over homemade ramps. A game of HORSE. "I Spy" while swinging in hammocks. One child's intrigue with the black accordion drain pipe led to three more investigating. The thrill of discovering that pipe attached to the gutter, then following the pipe buried underground to its outlet in the yard. A cup of chai on the stone ledge while chatting with my daughter.

The rest of the block was quiet.

Parents afraid to let kids outside?

Kids in front of computer or cell phone screens?

Kids in daycare?

Guess I am getting old (along with neighbor friends, I spent the entire summer with screen door slapping, I'm sure to my mother's chagrin), but oh, the happy banter, even the unhappy banter, of childhood play. A shared activity, a shared conflict. Learning to team create (great stuff out of castoffs, rocks, sand, bushes), relate, to resolve problems, to move on. 

And at the end of the day, to fall into bed richly exhausted with the moon peeking in through a starlit window.

As I drove home, I basked in the memory of the simple pleasures playing outside with kids provides. It took me back to my childhood.

That night as I tucked the sheet under my chin, I smiled at the moon shining through my window and fell into a deep sleep.

~~

What do you think, Readers? 

Are kids today missing out?

Are today's techy kids at an advantage?

Leave a comment below. 

God's Creative Comfort

During an Abba Walk the other day, I thanked my Good Shepherd that as His little (often trembling) lamb, He has me nestled under His loving arm. 

On my way back home, I rounded the corner and lo and behold--Lamb's Ear! A bumper crop! 

I had to smile as I plucked a woolly soft petal as a souvenir to press in my journal beside the entry I would write, 

the one about how God shows up with His sweet and often simple gifts that reassure my heart with His presence. 

How about you, dear reader? How has God shown up to comfort you in sweet and unexpected ways lately?

Share your anecdote to encourage my readers.

Celebrate Mom!

Celebrating Mom! 

A few weeks ago while rummaging through the utility room, I discovered a tattered notebook my mom started when she was a teenager. When I opened the cover and stopped sneezing :), I noticed the first entry, a poem titled, "God's Word Endures" based on Isaiah 40:8. Mama loved to read, study, and teach the scriptures, from junior-age boys to maturing women. She told me once that she used to line up her dolls when she was little and teach them Bible stories. 

Her contagious love for the Bible rippled down to me, and now I try to pass on that love to others, especially my kids and grandkids. 

Moms, whether still living or now deceased, leave all kinds of legacies. Prayerfully your mom left a faithful legacy that reflected a love for God's Word that led to a love for Jesus. 

But I realize not all of us had mothers who adhered to the scripture and modeled a love for Christ. Still, all our mothers gave us life. For that alone we can thank God, especially in a culture where pre-born life is not viewed as created in God's image and thus not treated as precious and valuable (Psalm 139). 

Our moms gave us physical life regardless of how that played out while we were growing up. God gave us spiritual life. That is an even greater gift. In the mystery of His workings, He used the moms we were given to shape us into the people we are. Even the negative experiences He can and will turn around for His glory and His use as we allow Him to point out the painful areas, apply His surgeon's scalpel, and ultimately bring healing that can then impact other lives for the Kingdom. 

If you're a mom or grandma, you can be that faithful lover of Jesus and God's Word for your children and grandchildren, whatever their ages. 

It's no surprise that we're living through difficult times. Jesus said we would. But Moms and Grandmas, we can make a difference right now, right where God's placed us. 

I'm comforted by stories like the one about the faithful grandmothers during the Bolshevik Revolution in 1917 that led to the formation of the Soviet Union. Lenin and his cronies thought they'd completely stamped out any trace of Christianity. However, in quiet places, tucked away, were little old grandmas rocking cradles, singing "Jesus Loves Me" and quoting scripture to babes and toddlers. Their behind-the-scene efforts spawned a new generation of believers.  

We can celebrate our moms, and we can be the moms and grandmothers that Jesus wants us to be right now, even in the midst of COVID isolation. 

What will that look like for you?

For me, it will look like a Zoom "Mother/Daughter Virtual Tea" with my three daughters. We will meet via video wearing our favorite frock (or not:) with beverage of choice in hand. 

Each of us will take 10 minutes to share our responses to the following questions.

1.) What is your chief mothering joy right now?

2.) What is your chief mothering challenge right now?

3.) What is your chief mothering scripture right now?

4.) What is your chief mothering prayer right now?

As you look ahead to Celebrating Mom this year, consider what you can do to both reflect and reach out to your kids, grandkids, or others who may need a "mom-touch" right now.

Eileen