As For Me and My House

Lots of cleaning going on at my house.  Would like to say the "regular fall cleaning"  but it is a bit more than that, especially since I didn't do the "regular spring cleaning"....we are prepping for a wedding!!!  So you can just imagine!

Now some of you may be thinking ahead.."she is going to talk about cleaning the rooms of my heart", which would be a good one...or "cleaning out the clutter of our lives"...another good one...and maybe it will tie in. BUT you have come to know my brain....
I had washed an artificial vine ( the only kind that can grow in my home) and putting it back around the large mirror that centers the wall....there is also wall art stickers....one says our family name and the other..."Christ is the head of this home"  it was given to me by a very dear sweet friend and it has become the focal point to our home...the wall is the first thing people see when you enter my house and it overlooks our kitchen table...where family and friends gather for food and fellowship, frequently.
But it got me thinking.  Does Christ rule this house?....this one built of wood and sheetrock?

But even more than that, "this home",  my body, the being that houses my soul?
As you come to him, the living Stone—rejected by humans but chosen by God and precious to him—  you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 2:4-5

It is my prayer everyday that I am ruled by Christ!
I give my body to Him to be used in His service.

Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2
I believe that if I am ruled by Christ then there is a better chance this home will be too.

And maybe you are the only one in your household who is ruled by Christ..but you would like your home to be....it starts with you...YOU allow the presence of Christ to be evident in you....and it will permeate your household.

The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas. He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”    They replied, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”  Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his household were baptized.  The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household. Acts 16:29-34
We have the ability to influence our household with our faith...

 The royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”
 “Go,” Jesus replied, “your son will live.”   The man took Jesus at his word and departed. While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, “Yesterday, at one in the afternoon, the fever left him.”   Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he and his whole household believed. John 4: 49-53

...with whom we choose to put first....

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.  For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him.  He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.  And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him,  and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Colossians 1:15-20

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live your lives in him,  rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.   See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy,which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ.   For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form,  and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is the head over every power and authority  Colossians 2:6-10

So ..yes a "big cleaning" ties in....clear away anything that might be hindering you from allowing Christ to be your "Head",  your "Ruler".   You want nothing to creep in and grow, nothing to get in the way of allowing Christ to rule your Spiritual house , and your home.

Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility,gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.   Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms,hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him. Colossians 3:12-17

It is up to YOU whether or not you have peace in your house, because it is up to you WHO rules your heart, and then your home.  

 “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house"   Luke 10:5

But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.”

Joshua 24:15

                            AMEN!

"No Joy"

I enjoy British TV...period stuff, and detective shows mostly, as they are (at least the ones I watch) very different from American police drama.
The language is, of course, different. Sometimes accents  and dialect are very strong and the vocabulary and phrases different....but I can follow, mostly...and enjoy them.
One phrase I have heard that got me thinking is "No Joy"
I can't even  remember the exact show where I heard it first..it may have been an aviator scene, and when the target couldn't be located or wasn't hit they reported "No joy"
Or when a detective didn't find the suspect in the hiding place he thought the criminal would be...he tells his team "No joy".
I just couldn't help but think no truer words have been said....

When we search and search for something ...when we "miss the mark"....there is "NO JOY"
Because the source of our joy is Christ.....anything else is ....."No Joy"!

How many times are we not where we are supposed to be?  How many times do we step away from the intended purpose God has for us?  I can just imagine (in my strange working mind) God saying. "No Joy"!

Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” Nehemiah 8:10b

Picture it...weapons drawn...ducking behind every corner  trying to stay out of sight, moving closer and closer to the target.  Tense, sweat dripping down the back of the neck....and BANG ...target area breached...and....."NO JOY! The Target is not acquired"
A suspenseful detective drama!!?
Or real life....moving rapidly from job to job, trying to acquire satisfaction/success,
home to home trying to attain contentment, partner to partner trying to find love, even church to church trying to find peace.
Or you shoot out those mean hurtful words trying to spit out the bitterness and resentment that boil over in your soul.
You continue to give that cold shoulder because you don't want that wound to heal....we all have a scenario that could potentially yield "No Joy".
There is NO JOY because we are heading toward the wrong target....seeking things of this world....not of heaven.
 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well" Matthew 6:33

NOW picture this....
Julie Andrews as Maria von Trapp twirling and singing on the mountain top! 🎶"The Hills Are Alive With the Sound of Music!!" 🎶 PURE JOY!
Okay....a little sappy! (at least I didn't say Miss Piggy and Kermit running through a field of flowers)
A very different scene from the first, and much more pleasant to imagine ourselves in.
Here is the real scene..script in red because it was spoken by a man, God's Son to be exact, knowing in a short while He would take on the sins of the world....our sin...(insert your name here)'s sin, so that God's plan to save us from that sin and ultimately an eternal seperation from God could become our reality.  He would willingly take death in order to save us!  And IF we choose to believe that, we have the promise of eternal life with the Father and the Son!

 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love.  I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.

See that?!  IF we choose to remain in Him He will give us His JOY!  And our joy is complete!

Don't know about you. ..but that puts me twirling on a mountain top singing at the top of my lungs...this song maybe!
Joy - Johnny Diaz   (Click on the link and sing with me!!!)

Let's seek the One who will bring us true joy and spread it where ever we go.

 Then they worshiped him and returned to Jerusalem with great joy.  Luke 24:52
. 

Our worship will spill over in the form of joy, (everything can be an act of worship...another Blog, another day!)...so we can be a perpetual fountain of Joy!

Spinning around the 🌞!!

A lot of us spin through life...busy, busy, busy. Jobs, kids, parents, church, social activities, homes, projects, commitments, etc etc, etc.
Are we just spinning  around? Out of control?
I was talking with a friend the other day and as we were talking  over our insane schedules...I asked her.."Do you feel like you are just going to spin right out of orbit?"
To which she responded.."It's all good! Just spinning around the sun!"
I immediately responded.."OH I feel a Blog coming on!"

We are all so busy juggling amazingly insane schedules, hoping we dont miss something important ...like picking up a child or an important event...we are all spinning like mad little tops.  BUT are we spinning around the right thing? Are we spinning around the Son!?
The sun's gravitational pull keeps all the spinning planets from careening off into space on a random trajectory.
AS it is with us....if in our busyness we make sure the center of all we do, of all our spinning, is Jesus Christ the Son then we can maintain our path.  But loose sight of our Son, our Center, and we may go careening off on a course that will eventually lead to destruction.
We have to make sure the spinning isn't just busyness....that it Christ driven...Son Centered.

The Centrality of Christ

             He is the image of the invisible God,

the firstborn over all creation.

For everything was created by Him,

in heaven and on earth,
the visible and the invisible,
whether thrones or dominions
or rulers or authorities—
all things have been created through Him and for Him.

He is before all things, and by Him all things hold together. 

He is also the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning,
the firstborn from the dead,
so that He might come to have
first place in everything.

For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him,

and through Him to reconcile everything to Himself
by making peace through the blood of His cross—whether things on earth or things in heaven. Colossians 1:15-20

Because, even if our lives are spinning right now,  IF we are spinning around the SON then our focus is in the right place.
Our daily center needs to be Christ.
The "gravity" of our SON holds us in place.....so we don't go spinning out of control!

In the beginning was the Word,
and the Word was with God,
and the Word was God.
2 He was with God in the beginning.
3 All things were created through Him,
and apart from Him not one thing was created that has been created.
4 Life was in Him, and that life was the light of men.
5 That light shines in the darkness,
yet the darkness did not overcome it. John 1:1-5
It ALL starts with Christ!
So start each day spending some time with the Son.  Through out your day make sure you take little moments (or big moments) to praise Him, thank Him, ask Him....it helps you keep "centered".  I know for me listening to praise/gospel music sometime during the day helps me to remember who my Center is.  There is every genre out there ...and some very good music!
Just did a new one at church on Sunday 
By Zach Williams
Old Church Choir - Zach Williams
Tell me THAT doesn't get you smiling!

Here is an old Hymn redone by Chris Tomlin that sums it all up

Lord I Need You

My prayer is that in all your spinning today you find your Center!     Amen!

Back To School

As we head into a new school year, at least where I am from...little ones(and big ones) begin their school year tomorrow, the day after labor day.

🏫😀😢😳😖😬😎😱😵 the many faces of the start of school, and those are just the teachers!  Kidding!

I don't know about you, but I can think back on some of the fond memories of school.

I had my first kiss (on the cheek) behind the piano in kindergarten...his name was Michael Keys.Who would forget!  (I JUST realized writing this..a piano in the classroom!?  How novel!!)

I think the teacher was Mrs.McGuire...don't remember that name as well as Michael's!!!  I remember Snap, Crackle and Pop, of Rice Krispies fame, were in the toy box! For some reason the fact I could actually hold and play with the guys on my cereal box fascinated me...remember I was only 5!

I also have memories in first or 2nd grade ..no one would hold my hands in gym to make the "big circle". (I have eczema, and my hands were, to be honest, pretty yukky)  I am sure that (along with the kiss) might be a bigger deal today...but they were all memories that I hold, and a lot of my memories make up lessons learned.

Would I go back to school...like that again?

Na...I like where I am now.

But there is a purpose to it...to learning and far more than facts, figures, dates and formulas. Resilience, humor, compassion etc. ( subject for another blog!)

And all of us are still learning every day....especially as Christians ...we are to be learning and growing in our  knowledge of Christ, with Him as our teacher.

This is what the Lord says—
your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel:
“I am the Lord your God,
who teaches you what is best for you,
who directs you in the way you should go. Isaiah 48:17

The bible says that we won't know fully until we meet Him face to face.  Until we come before our "teacher".  Which, to me, means we are constantly continuing to try to see more clearly...to learn more each day.

For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.       1 Corinthians 13:12

And we aren't working towards good grades or gold star stickers.
Our lessons...our "life tests", serve only to grow us stronger and move us closer to Him.

Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. James 1:12

But we don't do it for the reward...

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters,  since you know that you will receive an inheritancefrom the Lord as a reward. 

Colossians 3:23-24

To hear ....when we meet our Teacher face to face..."well done."

His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant!  Matthew 25:21

...that is all that I hope for!!

I wouldn't go BACK to school, but I wouldn't trade my "education" and my learning more about Christ and who He wants me to be everyday...for anything you have in your lunch box!!! Or anything in the world for that matter!

My prayer for all of you today!

We [I] continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives,  so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,  being strengthened with all poweraccording to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience,  and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. Colossians 1:9-12

Being Found

Post card, I wish you could talk!!!
During  this time of hospital and rehabilitation stays Mom has received cards and notes of well wishes. People encouraging her and telling her they are praying for her.  It is a sweet thing, as a ministry of Mom's is sending cards!  Family members near and far (and she has a very large family!!) plus many who are associated with family, friends  and our entire church family receive a card from Mom!  One thing that has been distressing for Mom is the fact she was loosing the ability to hold a pen and write out these cards.
So one dear friend and her children saw this as a perfect opportunity to return some if the blessings "Gramma", as she called by many, has given them with cards.
Some sent her cards during her 10 day stay at Crouse Hospital in Syracuse.  I gave many people my sister's address in Carthage because we knew at some point Mom would be heading to a physical rehabilitation facility near her and I didn't want mail to get lost once she made that move.
The receipt of mail seemed to flow seamlessly.  But my friend and her children asked about a post card...I said I would check.  Well, days would go by and in my commuting to see Mom I would forget to check. I had given out the address of Mom's newest place of residence as we were projecting a stay of possibly 6 weeks.
One day last week I finally asked about the post card...had it been forwarded?
AND HERE is what I found!!!!

This post card was found by my father in the driveway of their home 3 hours away from the rehab facility, on one of his short, infrequent trips to tend to business!

If you are able to zoom in on the address section it is addressed to Mom at Crouse Hospital.....there was a pink post-it taped over it that said.."no longer here".

NO forwarding address, no other address than an return address that is a town an hour away from my folks.

It was lying in the drive way...and seems to have been run over at least once because of the stone marks imprinted in the card.

HOW DID THAT POST CARD, AS IT IS, FIND IT'S WAY TO THE CORRECT PERSON'S DRIVE WAY????!!!

My explanation...

God makes sure things are found!!

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.  For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened." Matthew 7:7-8

Maybe it had had a label that had the forwarding address on it ...but where DID that go?  When was it ripped off?

And why, when the wind at their house NEVER stops, would it remain in the driveway until my father found it?!

I know it seems like something trivial, but I look at things like this and see God!

He has shown all throughout this journey HE is the God who moves mountains!  AND He is the God who cares about postcards!

He is in the big things and in the little things!

Doesn't that give you peace!!??

 Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you.  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.  I will be found by you,” declares the Lord, Jeremiah 29:12-14a

Rest in the fact that regardless of the turmoil He cares and is in control!

It doesn't mean that turmoil stays away, but ....if we seek Him we will find Him...we can  have faith that He is walking it with us!

He came to find us, to find YOU..no matter how lost we may be or feel....He has come to save us!

IF He can find a post card, how much more important are YOU!!

For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” Luke 19:10

You Have Saved Us - Paul Baloche  click on the link for a great song!

Psalm 23

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.

 He makes me lie down in green pastures,he leads me beside quiet waters,

   he refreshes my soul.He guides me along the right paths
    for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk
    through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil,
    for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me

    in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.

Surely your goodness and love will follow me    all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of theLord
    forever.

I have used this verse before...probably more than once, but I am going to look at a different part.
My mom is taking great comfort and strength from this scripture passage during this journey.
She shared with me her imaging when reciting it;
"Your rod and Your Staff"
Mom invisioned one in each hand.
HIS rod...
HIS staff....

In scripture many times they are used synonymously,  but I  am going to expound on the subtle differences.
There is the rod...used for correcting/discipline, defending, protecting.

"You will break them with a rod of iron;
    you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”
Psalm 2:9

A rod and a reprimand impart wisdom, but a child left undisciplined disgraces its mother. Proverbs 29:15

With Moses all through out Exudus God had him use the staff to do amazing things, over and over, to show them the power of God

Raise your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea to divide the water so that the Israelites can go through the sea on dry ground. Exodus 14:16

The staff was used when traveling to give assistance to the traveler.
Do not get any gold or silver or copper to take with you in your belts—  no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals or a staff, for the worker is worth his keep. Matthew 10:9-10

Or even something to lean on for rest.
By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff.
Hebrews 11:21

The shepherds used a staff to guide the sheep in the direction they needed to go, and even rescue them with the crook if neccesary.

Kevin has walking sticks he has made for hiking.  They are taller than the hiker and they lend balance and support on unsteady ground  and defiantely something to lean on when weary.

So Mom, with God's rod in one hand....
God is defending and protecting her against attacks from the devil (discouragement, dispair etc)
In her other hand God's staff giving her support with every step, somewhere to lean when she gets weary. Guiding her,  directing her steps.

We are grateful for God's peace and comfort as we work through all of the challenges life brings.
God defends us, protects us, gives His stength.
And He gives us the tools to climb any mountain! AMEN!

The song that has been going through my head as I have been working on this.
Word of God Speak - Mercy Me