This year at school I've taught 3 World History classes and 2 Literature classes.
As the last novel of the year we're reading The Giver by Lois Lowry which is a young adult science fiction novel. I've found that teachers and parents too enjoy reading and discussing The Giver. Interestingly enough I'm not a science fiction genre fan but this one captivated me from the first time and every chance I get to teach it I enjoy it. It deals with a utopian society and what they have and don't have in order to be perfect. In the course of the novel, through the experience of our twelve-year-old protagonist we learn that this society isn't as perfect as they would like to think. I wouldn't want to spoil anyone's pleasure of reading and enjoying this novel for themselves so I won't expound on the plot further.
One rule of the community is 'precision of language' which got me thinking this dull, gray, at-home Sunday morning.... I love words!
(It's even one of my 5 Love Languages according to Gary Chapman.)
I enjoy a well-crafted sentence or paragraph, one of which I read this week in the liner notes of a recently purchased Gaither Vocal Band CD:
".... when the singers who use those voices have each been processed and refined by life in a way only God can do, then the music they make becomes a transcendent experience that reaches to the bottom of our souls....." ~ Gloria Gaither
I suppose these lines spoke to my heart so much because I've lived them out for myself. I know what being processed and refined by life in a way only God can do and I've made music which became a transcendent experience that reached to the bottom of my soul as well as others'. It's indescribable at times!
Sometimes, my love of language is simply a favorite word, I've collected a few from my life experience. In Chinese, it's an expression of frustration or agitation, "Aiyeah!" or in Moroccan, it would have to be what I heard often, "Schutz" (shush, be quiet) or "Ya la" (Hurry up! Let's go!) or in French, (ahhhhh, the after a fine dinner), "Confortable".... But in English my favorite word has to be "lavish".
I don't know exactly what it is about it, its sound or its meaning that makes my heart skip a beat with delight... but it does when I hear it or read it. In the New Testament, in the first letter of the apostle John chapter 3 verse 1 says, "See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" ****Sweet***** I'm not sure if it's the entirety of the verse which thrills me or that my favorite word is at its heart or that it's 'the perfect storm' of my favorite word expressing God's heart of love so succinctly! AWESOME.
Language, it's a wonderful thing when there's understanding but when there's precision of language expressing exactly what and how you want to be understood, there's nothing like it. Then there are some times language isn't even enough, when our hearts bubble up and overflow like a fountain when we're overcome with LOVE, God's love:
Walking hand in hand back that long aisle as freshly pronounced husband and wife
Holding that healthy ten-fingered, ten-toed bundle in your arms for the first eternal moment of their lives
Four generations gathered around one over-stuffed table offering a prayer of thanks
Saying that final good-bye in person, from your lips to their ears, drawing a faint smile of a life well-lived
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Being In The Pit Isn't Pitiful
Last Sunday I woke up about my usual 8 am, in time for The Active Word with Pastor Bob Coy from Calvary Chapel Fort Lauderdale and he was talking about the Old Testament story of Joseph. It is found in Genesis 37 and Genesis 39.
Joseph had been put in a pit by his brothers who were jealous of him and his favor with their father and wanted rid of him. Eventually he ends up out of the pit but in Egypt in prison, another kind of pit. Both times Joseph continued doing what he knew to be right in God's sight and didn't get frazzled about it all.
Pastor Bob went on to explain that unless a seed falls to the ground and dies it remains a single seed but if it dies then it brings forth a harvest of many seeds. John 12:24
Our lives are like that. If we are only concerned with ourselves and the benefit for ourselves then that's all there is. However, if we consider others before or instead of ourselves then there's more to share.
Joseph was put in a pit which was selfish on the brothers' part but God used Joseph to eventually save the brothers and their families when a famine came to the land. Joseph had been rescued from the pit by a traveling caravan, ended up in Egypt, in pharaoh's house and in charge of the grain supply.... WOW~now that's GOD! The Bible says that God knows the beginning from the end. Isaiah 46:10
Joseph was a type of seed while in the pit, a good seed, alone, covered by earth on all sides, with only sunlight above. He continued living how he lived, being a righteous man, trusting and obeying God, with his eyes on the Lord, eventually grew OUT of the pit, all a part of God's plan for him, as well as for his family. What was intended for evil was used by God to be good. Genesis 50:20
I was struck by this illustration of a good seed being in an earthen pit with only the sunlight to look to and how eventually it can grow out of its pit. Pastor Bob used the words, "being in the pit isn't pitiful". My ears locked onto that phrase and I've been replaying them through my mind this week.
I don't feel like I'm in a pit but I know I am because I'm not where I want to be YET. Better yet, I know the formula for getting out: keep my eyes on the light of God's Son Jesus, trust & obey what He tells me to do (or not do in my case), and eventually, by doing what is right, over time, I'll grow out of the pit I've put myself in through wrong choices and bad decisions over my lifetime, physically, financially, emotionally and even spiritually.
So, my encouraging word right now is: Being in the Pit isn't Pitiful. Praise the Lord!
Joseph had been put in a pit by his brothers who were jealous of him and his favor with their father and wanted rid of him. Eventually he ends up out of the pit but in Egypt in prison, another kind of pit. Both times Joseph continued doing what he knew to be right in God's sight and didn't get frazzled about it all.
Pastor Bob went on to explain that unless a seed falls to the ground and dies it remains a single seed but if it dies then it brings forth a harvest of many seeds. John 12:24
Our lives are like that. If we are only concerned with ourselves and the benefit for ourselves then that's all there is. However, if we consider others before or instead of ourselves then there's more to share.
Joseph was put in a pit which was selfish on the brothers' part but God used Joseph to eventually save the brothers and their families when a famine came to the land. Joseph had been rescued from the pit by a traveling caravan, ended up in Egypt, in pharaoh's house and in charge of the grain supply.... WOW~now that's GOD! The Bible says that God knows the beginning from the end. Isaiah 46:10
Joseph was a type of seed while in the pit, a good seed, alone, covered by earth on all sides, with only sunlight above. He continued living how he lived, being a righteous man, trusting and obeying God, with his eyes on the Lord, eventually grew OUT of the pit, all a part of God's plan for him, as well as for his family. What was intended for evil was used by God to be good. Genesis 50:20
I was struck by this illustration of a good seed being in an earthen pit with only the sunlight to look to and how eventually it can grow out of its pit. Pastor Bob used the words, "being in the pit isn't pitiful". My ears locked onto that phrase and I've been replaying them through my mind this week.
I don't feel like I'm in a pit but I know I am because I'm not where I want to be YET. Better yet, I know the formula for getting out: keep my eyes on the light of God's Son Jesus, trust & obey what He tells me to do (or not do in my case), and eventually, by doing what is right, over time, I'll grow out of the pit I've put myself in through wrong choices and bad decisions over my lifetime, physically, financially, emotionally and even spiritually.
So, my encouraging word right now is: Being in the Pit isn't Pitiful. Praise the Lord!
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Your Next HAPPY MEAL
*note* My Pastor recently shared this in an email to the church and I was quite moved by it and wanted to share it here.
John Ortberg says, "When you buy your kid a Happy Meal, you're not just buying fries, McNuggets, and a toy; you're buying happiness. Their advertisements have convinced my children they have a little McDonald-shaped vacuum in their souls: 'Our hearts are restless till they find their rest in a Happy Meal.'"
The problem with the Happy Meal is that the happy wears off, and they need a new fix. No child discovers lasting happiness in just one: "Remember that Happy Meal? What great joy I found there!"
Happy Meals bring happiness only to McDonalds. You ever wonder why Ronald McDonald wears that grin? Twenty billion Happy Meals, that's why.
[Taken from the article Happy Meal Spirituality, Christianity Today, May 1993]
Ortberg concludes by saying, "When you get older, you don't get any smarter; your happy meals just get more expensive."
What's the last Happy Meal you bought for yourself? A car? Some clothes? A house? A spouse? How long did it last? No matter how hard we try, or how much we spend, as long as we live with a happy meal mentality, happiness will elude us.
Ortberg paraphrased a familiar quote by St. Augustine:
"Our hearts are restless till they find rest in thee."
Or as David said it, "My soul finds rest in God alone..." (Psalm 62:1)
Take a moment today to think about your next Happy Meal. Instead of pursuing one more thing, one more possession, one more acquisition ... instead of striving for bigger numbers or better money or more praise directed your way ... spend a few minutes alone with the God who loves you, and let his presence in your life satisfy you.
"Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare." (Isaiah 55:2)
John Ortberg says, "When you buy your kid a Happy Meal, you're not just buying fries, McNuggets, and a toy; you're buying happiness. Their advertisements have convinced my children they have a little McDonald-shaped vacuum in their souls: 'Our hearts are restless till they find their rest in a Happy Meal.'"
The problem with the Happy Meal is that the happy wears off, and they need a new fix. No child discovers lasting happiness in just one: "Remember that Happy Meal? What great joy I found there!"
Happy Meals bring happiness only to McDonalds. You ever wonder why Ronald McDonald wears that grin? Twenty billion Happy Meals, that's why.
[Taken from the article Happy Meal Spirituality, Christianity Today, May 1993]
Ortberg concludes by saying, "When you get older, you don't get any smarter; your happy meals just get more expensive."
What's the last Happy Meal you bought for yourself? A car? Some clothes? A house? A spouse? How long did it last? No matter how hard we try, or how much we spend, as long as we live with a happy meal mentality, happiness will elude us.
Ortberg paraphrased a familiar quote by St. Augustine:
"Our hearts are restless till they find rest in thee."
Or as David said it, "My soul finds rest in God alone..." (Psalm 62:1)
Take a moment today to think about your next Happy Meal. Instead of pursuing one more thing, one more possession, one more acquisition ... instead of striving for bigger numbers or better money or more praise directed your way ... spend a few minutes alone with the God who loves you, and let his presence in your life satisfy you.
"Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare." (Isaiah 55:2)
Sunday, August 15, 2010
PASSION
The other evening I 'caught' a movie which I absolutely love. I've seen it several times but no other time impressed me as it did the other night.
Wikipedia explains: Chariots of Fire is a 1981 British film. It tells the fact-based story of two athletes in the 1924 Olympics: Eric Liddell, a devout ScottishChristian who runs for the glory of God, and Harold Abrahams, an English Jew who runs to overcome prejudice.
Wikipedia explains: Chariots of Fire is a 1981 British film. It tells the fact-based story of two athletes in the 1924 Olympics: Eric Liddell, a devout ScottishChristian who runs for the glory of God, and Harold Abrahams, an English Jew who runs to overcome prejudice.
The film was written by Colin Welland and directed by Hugh Hudson. It was nominated for seven Academy Awards and won four, including Best Picture. It is ranked 19th in the British Film Institute's list of Top 100 British films.
The film's title was inspired by the line, "Bring me my chariot of fire," from the William Blake poem adapted into the popular British hymnJerusalem; the hymn is heard at the end of the film.[1] The original phrase "chariot(s) of fire" is from 2 Kings 2:11 and 2 Kings 6:17 in the Bible.
The film's title was inspired by the line, "Bring me my chariot of fire," from the William Blake poem adapted into the popular British hymnJerusalem; the hymn is heard at the end of the film.[1] The original phrase "chariot(s) of fire" is from 2 Kings 2:11 and 2 Kings 6:17 in the Bible.
I was familiar with the 2 Kings 6:17 reference about "chariots of fire" but didn't quite understand the correlation. However, that night, when I saw the other scripture reference for "chariots of fire" I checked it out and it all 'clicked' for me.
2 Kings 2:11 (New International Version) As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind.
The Old Testament story tells of Elijah & Elisha and their time together and how it ended, here in verse 11.
The movie Chariots of Fire is similar to the 2 Kings story. It is about two individual men, with the same talent for running whose lives only run parallel for a brief period in time. One is Harold Abrahams who is Jewish and feels he has something to prove with his speed. The other is Eric Liddell who is a Christian Scot who only runs for the pleasure of his Creator. It is a pure pleasure without inhibition or obligation.
It made me consider how I run this race called life. Do I run out of obligation? Do I run with pleasure? Do I run without inhibition? Do I run for the pleasure of My Creator?
I think at times, I run out of obligation. At other times I do run with pleasure.... mine and at other times, hopefully, My Creator's. However, I question if I ever run this race called life without inhibition.
This summer I've taken a real look in the proverbial mirror at myself, more emotionally than physically; although, I've done that too. I'm beginning to see things which I've never seen before. One of the realizations having to do with PASSION... Running without inhibition... A commitment to convictions.
I am impressed when I see someone display passion for something or someone. There is no doubt, no question about what motivates and drives their life. It has moved me to question my own life, my desires, my motivations. Is there passion there? Can someone else see ME running without inhibition, with a passion for one solitary thing?
It made me consider how I run this race called life. Do I run out of obligation? Do I run with pleasure? Do I run without inhibition? Do I run for the pleasure of My Creator?
I think at times, I run out of obligation. At other times I do run with pleasure.... mine and at other times, hopefully, My Creator's. However, I question if I ever run this race called life without inhibition.
This summer I've taken a real look in the proverbial mirror at myself, more emotionally than physically; although, I've done that too. I'm beginning to see things which I've never seen before. One of the realizations having to do with PASSION... Running without inhibition... A commitment to convictions.
I am impressed when I see someone display passion for something or someone. There is no doubt, no question about what motivates and drives their life. It has moved me to question my own life, my desires, my motivations. Is there passion there? Can someone else see ME running without inhibition, with a passion for one solitary thing?
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
HEAVEN
Last night I watched the movie "Five People You Meet in Heaven" based on Mitch Albom's book. Well..... it was interesting to say the least. I'm still not sure if I liked it even. Uh.... what????? But, it was Food for Thought and I like that.
It got broken down to this. In heaven, you will meet strangers, people who sacrificed for you, someone you need to forgive, people you love and someone who holds a strong connection to you. INTERESTING. It's not exactly my picture of heaven, nor is it the Bible's picture of heaven.
But, having said that, obviously there will be strangers in heaven and I don't expect to know everyone, just as I don't know everyone here. The Bible does say that we will be known as we are known I Corinthians 13:12.
I do believe that I will meet Someone who sacrificed for me, definitely, no doubt, JESUS.
Well, meeting people who I need to forgive for something done against me or something I have against them. I am unsure about. Heaven to me is a place where the resolution is behind you, not yet to be done. So, that one I'll leave for now.
Definitely, I expect to see people whom I love and have lost here in this world, not the least of being my mom. Can't wait to see my Auntie Margaret & Pap Pap too!!!!! Even time can't erase love.
Lastly, I am pretty sure I will see people there whom I have had a strong connection with. Considering that I usually have a strong connection with most anyone who is in my life for any certain amount of time, I'm sure I will be more than blessed in heaven!
The actual places pictured in heaven were interesting too. All five people were found in five different scenes or types of places. One was the man's favorite and most familiar place. Another was the battlefield where his life was changed. Another was where he met his 'true love'. The other 2 were less significant but ones of serenity: a snowy woodland and a peaceful pond.
Of course, my favorite place on earth is near water so I hope that heaven is filled with majestic waterfalls, languid lakes, roaring oceans and tranquil streams. I love the fluidity of water, how much it moves yet doesn't change its character or consistency.
Familiar places would be so comforting, like around the dinner table with family, or in a car with my mom, perhaps the foyer of my childhood church home, but definitely the narrow country roads I grew up on.
So much of who we are is where and how we grew up. I wouldn't trade my childhood for anyone's. I knew I was loved unconditionally and always felt safe. In today's world that statement says A LOT.
You know what, though, maybe heaven has more to do with a familiar place than we realize. Isn't heaven supposed to be your final home? Aren't you supposed to feel like you're finally home? And what is more familiar than home?
Heaven, my home. In the words of Carrie Underwood, this life here is just my Temporary Home.
It got broken down to this. In heaven, you will meet strangers, people who sacrificed for you, someone you need to forgive, people you love and someone who holds a strong connection to you. INTERESTING. It's not exactly my picture of heaven, nor is it the Bible's picture of heaven.
But, having said that, obviously there will be strangers in heaven and I don't expect to know everyone, just as I don't know everyone here. The Bible does say that we will be known as we are known I Corinthians 13:12.
I do believe that I will meet Someone who sacrificed for me, definitely, no doubt, JESUS.
Well, meeting people who I need to forgive for something done against me or something I have against them. I am unsure about. Heaven to me is a place where the resolution is behind you, not yet to be done. So, that one I'll leave for now.
Definitely, I expect to see people whom I love and have lost here in this world, not the least of being my mom. Can't wait to see my Auntie Margaret & Pap Pap too!!!!! Even time can't erase love.
Lastly, I am pretty sure I will see people there whom I have had a strong connection with. Considering that I usually have a strong connection with most anyone who is in my life for any certain amount of time, I'm sure I will be more than blessed in heaven!
The actual places pictured in heaven were interesting too. All five people were found in five different scenes or types of places. One was the man's favorite and most familiar place. Another was the battlefield where his life was changed. Another was where he met his 'true love'. The other 2 were less significant but ones of serenity: a snowy woodland and a peaceful pond.
Of course, my favorite place on earth is near water so I hope that heaven is filled with majestic waterfalls, languid lakes, roaring oceans and tranquil streams. I love the fluidity of water, how much it moves yet doesn't change its character or consistency.
Familiar places would be so comforting, like around the dinner table with family, or in a car with my mom, perhaps the foyer of my childhood church home, but definitely the narrow country roads I grew up on.
So much of who we are is where and how we grew up. I wouldn't trade my childhood for anyone's. I knew I was loved unconditionally and always felt safe. In today's world that statement says A LOT.
You know what, though, maybe heaven has more to do with a familiar place than we realize. Isn't heaven supposed to be your final home? Aren't you supposed to feel like you're finally home? And what is more familiar than home?
Heaven, my home. In the words of Carrie Underwood, this life here is just my Temporary Home.
Sunday, August 8, 2010
The Love of My Life
Yeh, at 46, still looking for "the love of my life".... or am I?
Over lunch the other day I was telling a story to my friend and she said, "could be the love of your life." "Yeh, right, of course." I thought. As I was driving home though I was listening to some of my music (i.e. Christian) and was listening to the words of a song. It was all about how he (the Lord) loves me. It was then that the two thoughts connected:
Jesus is really the love of my life!
Who else knows me better? Who else loves me more... faults, scars et al? Ultimately, who already died for me, not who would 'take a bullet' for me? JESUS. JESUS. JESUS.
Now that I realized the love of my life, I suppose the next question is am I in love with Him? Do I know Him better than anyone else? Do I love Him more than anyone else? Would I give anything to be with Him?
Can I say with the psalmist, "...my soul longs for you Oh God..." (Psalm 42:1) ? Hmmm.......
Over lunch the other day I was telling a story to my friend and she said, "could be the love of your life." "Yeh, right, of course." I thought. As I was driving home though I was listening to some of my music (i.e. Christian) and was listening to the words of a song. It was all about how he (the Lord) loves me. It was then that the two thoughts connected:
Jesus is really the love of my life!
Who else knows me better? Who else loves me more... faults, scars et al? Ultimately, who already died for me, not who would 'take a bullet' for me? JESUS. JESUS. JESUS.
Now that I realized the love of my life, I suppose the next question is am I in love with Him? Do I know Him better than anyone else? Do I love Him more than anyone else? Would I give anything to be with Him?
Can I say with the psalmist, "...my soul longs for you Oh God..." (Psalm 42:1) ? Hmmm.......
Saturday, August 7, 2010
SCARS
I was headed out this morning to work and was sitting at the first light and pulled my make-up bag out to start 'my face' for the day. YES... I'm one of those who puts her make-up on in the car but I've stopped doing it on the interstate at 70 MPH. (audible *sigh of relief* from my Dad and Stepmom)
Anyway, back to my story, I began with the concealer to cover those blemishes I wanted to smooth out and try to blend in. I was doing just that when the thought came to me about our 'blemishes' or our scars of life.
We all have them. We all try to cover them up and hide them hoping no one will notice.
And yet, the only one who really needs to 'come to grips' with them is the person looking in the mirror.
I remember looking at a picture of myself with my sister over Spring Break. I commented on how my bangs were messy and uneven and she nonchalantly replied, "Oh, but that's you! That's what you look like."
How true! I can never get perfect bangs because I hate things hanging in my eyes or touching my face. That is who I am and at this point in my life why try to change it or get frustrated with it? It is who I am, accept it. Everyone else in my life, who chooses to be in my life, has already accepted that.
Back to what I was saying about scars. We all have them why try to cover or hide them? Really, sometimes it is only ourselves who is the one consumed with the scar. The people in our lives have already accepted that that is who we are, scars and all.
Scars say that there was something in our past that hurt us, that we can't or don't want to forget.
Being the Christian I am, my mind went to Jesus and the scars which he had imprinted on his hands from the sacrifice on the cross. In the book of John, chapter 20 (John 20:19-31)
the story is told about Jesus appearing to his disciples after his resurrection and how he pointed out his scars as proof of His Act of Love. He wasn't trying to cover or hide his scars. He wasn't hoping that no one would notice. He showed them as evidence.
Maybe our scars are more evidence of life than they are mistakes. A scar isn't necessarily a negative thing, as in the case of Jesus' scars. They are part of us. They are there as a reminder. Why are we always trying to cover up who we are and who we have become?
Why hide the real me? Why wear an impostor's mask when I can be an authentic original? Why do we think noticing our scars is not a good thing?
I think more people appreciate and more readily accept someone who is real, with real-life experience, who isn't covering up or hiding anything, who is authentic. I know when I see a person's scar, or vulnerability, I more easily identify with them and more quickly appreciate who they have become.
And sometimes... our scars are there for the whole world to see and to learn from. They become a platform from which to share our experience.... like Vietnam Vet Dave Roever or motivational speaker Nick Vujicic.
Anyway, back to my story, I began with the concealer to cover those blemishes I wanted to smooth out and try to blend in. I was doing just that when the thought came to me about our 'blemishes' or our scars of life.
We all have them. We all try to cover them up and hide them hoping no one will notice.
And yet, the only one who really needs to 'come to grips' with them is the person looking in the mirror.
I remember looking at a picture of myself with my sister over Spring Break. I commented on how my bangs were messy and uneven and she nonchalantly replied, "Oh, but that's you! That's what you look like."
How true! I can never get perfect bangs because I hate things hanging in my eyes or touching my face. That is who I am and at this point in my life why try to change it or get frustrated with it? It is who I am, accept it. Everyone else in my life, who chooses to be in my life, has already accepted that.
Back to what I was saying about scars. We all have them why try to cover or hide them? Really, sometimes it is only ourselves who is the one consumed with the scar. The people in our lives have already accepted that that is who we are, scars and all.
Scars say that there was something in our past that hurt us, that we can't or don't want to forget.
Being the Christian I am, my mind went to Jesus and the scars which he had imprinted on his hands from the sacrifice on the cross. In the book of John, chapter 20 (John 20:19-31)
the story is told about Jesus appearing to his disciples after his resurrection and how he pointed out his scars as proof of His Act of Love. He wasn't trying to cover or hide his scars. He wasn't hoping that no one would notice. He showed them as evidence.
Maybe our scars are more evidence of life than they are mistakes. A scar isn't necessarily a negative thing, as in the case of Jesus' scars. They are part of us. They are there as a reminder. Why are we always trying to cover up who we are and who we have become?
Why hide the real me? Why wear an impostor's mask when I can be an authentic original? Why do we think noticing our scars is not a good thing?
I think more people appreciate and more readily accept someone who is real, with real-life experience, who isn't covering up or hiding anything, who is authentic. I know when I see a person's scar, or vulnerability, I more easily identify with them and more quickly appreciate who they have become.
And sometimes... our scars are there for the whole world to see and to learn from. They become a platform from which to share our experience.... like Vietnam Vet Dave Roever or motivational speaker Nick Vujicic.
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