He waits patiently like a gentleman for an invitation.
Have you ever pondered over the fact that Jesus isn’t pushy? He doesn’t force himself on people. He lets us explore our options and choose him when the time is right.
Saturday night was my first time eating at a Brazilian Steak-House called Chama Gaucha. My sister was in town visiting, and my husband wanted to treat us to a fun and unusual experience. We were each given a coaster-type card that was red on one side and green on the other. When I wanted the “gaucho” to come over with meat all I had to do was flip my card to green and within seconds a polite man with steaks or lamb and a sharp knife appeared and sliced me a piece. This went on all evening and wow was it yummy, fresh and hot off the grill! Luckily the slices were thin and small so we didn’t get nearly as full as you might imagine… If I hadn’t flipped my card in a while and my plate was empty our waiter would kindly ask if there was anything I needed, or a particular meat I was waiting for.
In Revelation 3:20, it says “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.”
He knocks, we decide to answer or ignore. I am glad I “answered” or “flipped my card to green” when I was 17 and a senior in high school. It is 33 years later and I am embarrassed to admit that there have been times that I’ve ignored Him. He’s gently “asked” if I need anything and sometimes I turn Him down almost as if he was my waiter and I’ve had “enough” for now. I need to be asking HIM what HE needs from me!
Oh this Christian journey is costly and delicious-like the steak restaurant! I wouldn’t want to miss the experience…
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Monday, July 12, 2010
Trapped by the Train
Our new town has train tracks running right through the center of town. Twice today I was “stuck” waiting. Many thoughts ran through my mind; what if I was REALLY in a hurry? What do people do if they’re in labor, or on their way to ER for some other accident? How many times will my daughter be tardy for high school or late to tennis because we didn’t time our trip right, or a train came when we weren’t expecting it? Freight trains don’t travel on regular schedules and commuter train schedules change, so I suppose I'll be stuck waiting quite often.
Trains have always scared me a bit. They’re so loud and fast and heavy. Just the locomotive weighs about 200 tons and trains can’t stop quickly. They can move in either direction and stick out past the tracks. There are times in my life when I feel like my circumstances are like a train. Circumstances come barreling at me or my loved ones and I have to stop what I’m doing and wait. Even if I hear or see a warning, sometimes events scream toward me and I feel like the safety gates barely closed in time to protect me. In Psalm 27:5 it says “For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock.”
I am trapped in a place that isn’t comfortable or convenient and all I can do is wait on the Lord, just like when I’m trapped by the train.
Psalm 27:4 says, “Wait for the Lord.” It doesn’t help to be impatient, I can’t really change my location or situation, all I can do is trust that the “train” going through my life won’t last forever and God will decide how long until I can move forward.
It’s good to sit still and wait sometimes. Instead of feeling trapped by the trains, I think I’ll use the time to pray and give thanks for the blessings in my life, and to wait expectantly for what might be on the other side of the tracks…
Trains have always scared me a bit. They’re so loud and fast and heavy. Just the locomotive weighs about 200 tons and trains can’t stop quickly. They can move in either direction and stick out past the tracks. There are times in my life when I feel like my circumstances are like a train. Circumstances come barreling at me or my loved ones and I have to stop what I’m doing and wait. Even if I hear or see a warning, sometimes events scream toward me and I feel like the safety gates barely closed in time to protect me. In Psalm 27:5 it says “For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle and set me high upon a rock.”
I am trapped in a place that isn’t comfortable or convenient and all I can do is wait on the Lord, just like when I’m trapped by the train.
Psalm 27:4 says, “Wait for the Lord.” It doesn’t help to be impatient, I can’t really change my location or situation, all I can do is trust that the “train” going through my life won’t last forever and God will decide how long until I can move forward.
It’s good to sit still and wait sometimes. Instead of feeling trapped by the trains, I think I’ll use the time to pray and give thanks for the blessings in my life, and to wait expectantly for what might be on the other side of the tracks…
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
A Spot
The first day I taught kindergarten my principal gave me a cute spotted stuffed dog with a card that said, “Everybody needs a spot”. Isn’t that true? Don’t we all need to feel like we belong and have our special place?
My dog has found her spot in the new house. We put a small area rug at the bottom of the stairs and she lays there and can look out the glass front door. Tigger the cat was quite traumatized by the move and found his spot the first day. Tucked in a dark place under the basement stairs is a small ledge just the right size for a fat cat. We put his cat bed on the ledge and he spends all day in his “spot”.
I haven’t found my “spot” yet, in this house or in my new town. I know it will take a while to figure it out. My high school daughter really needs a spot. We signed her up for varsity tennis camp, thinking it would be a great way to make friends and that being a part of the team would make her feel like she belonged. Well, day one was NO fun… My sweet girl was not welcomed with open arms and as her mom I was reminded of a saying one of my best friends and I have; “Moms are only as happy as their saddest child.” Oh my heart broke for her yesterday.
Today is a new day and surely it will also be a better day at camp. God didn’t orchestrate this move just to have my sweet Sarah give up the sport she loves, or have her confidence shattered. In Jeremiah 29:11 the bible states, “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Eventually everyone in our family will find their “spot” in this new place. I just hope the skunk I saw crawl into our hosta plants by the front door doesn’t think that is his “spot”!!!
My dog has found her spot in the new house. We put a small area rug at the bottom of the stairs and she lays there and can look out the glass front door. Tigger the cat was quite traumatized by the move and found his spot the first day. Tucked in a dark place under the basement stairs is a small ledge just the right size for a fat cat. We put his cat bed on the ledge and he spends all day in his “spot”.
I haven’t found my “spot” yet, in this house or in my new town. I know it will take a while to figure it out. My high school daughter really needs a spot. We signed her up for varsity tennis camp, thinking it would be a great way to make friends and that being a part of the team would make her feel like she belonged. Well, day one was NO fun… My sweet girl was not welcomed with open arms and as her mom I was reminded of a saying one of my best friends and I have; “Moms are only as happy as their saddest child.” Oh my heart broke for her yesterday.
Today is a new day and surely it will also be a better day at camp. God didn’t orchestrate this move just to have my sweet Sarah give up the sport she loves, or have her confidence shattered. In Jeremiah 29:11 the bible states, “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Eventually everyone in our family will find their “spot” in this new place. I just hope the skunk I saw crawl into our hosta plants by the front door doesn’t think that is his “spot”!!!
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Fear and Freedom
I was concerned as I watched a cute little rabbit enter our backyard. I don’t think it had a clue that our Labrador-mix dog was up on the deck and would soon be dashing toward it. I was reminded of Peter Rabbit from the Beatrix Potter Tale when he is being chased by the farmer. Our rabbit was frozen with fear for a moment, then he hi-tailed it out of an opening in our fence. Whew, I was thankful for that ending…
Tonight it will be our dog’s turn to face her fears. She is quite an anxious dog and fireworks put her “over the edge”. We’ll be doling out some sedatives to keep her as comfortable as possible. Apparently they didn’t work so well on her plane ride from Seattle to Chicago-she still barked so much she was hoarse.
I have way too many fears; heights, falling, cancer reappearing, will my daughter and I make new friends? Today is our country’s independence day. We celebrate our freedom as a nation. I loved the way the pastor at the church we visited this morning talked about how we are new people in Christ. Even more important than being proud Americans, we need to remember we are citizens of Heaven and act accordingly.
I am so thankful I live in a country where I am free to worship my God without fear. I need to stop worrying and being anxious about things I have no control over, and live in the freedom that comes with being a child of God. Have you thought about what a gift freedom is, or do you take it for granted?
Now if only I could convince Sadie the dog that the fireworks won’t harm her… Happy 4th!!!
Blessings, Jane
Tonight it will be our dog’s turn to face her fears. She is quite an anxious dog and fireworks put her “over the edge”. We’ll be doling out some sedatives to keep her as comfortable as possible. Apparently they didn’t work so well on her plane ride from Seattle to Chicago-she still barked so much she was hoarse.
I have way too many fears; heights, falling, cancer reappearing, will my daughter and I make new friends? Today is our country’s independence day. We celebrate our freedom as a nation. I loved the way the pastor at the church we visited this morning talked about how we are new people in Christ. Even more important than being proud Americans, we need to remember we are citizens of Heaven and act accordingly.
I am so thankful I live in a country where I am free to worship my God without fear. I need to stop worrying and being anxious about things I have no control over, and live in the freedom that comes with being a child of God. Have you thought about what a gift freedom is, or do you take it for granted?
Now if only I could convince Sadie the dog that the fireworks won’t harm her… Happy 4th!!!
Blessings, Jane
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