As We End 2013

As we end 2013…Dec. 31, 2013

This morning someone near and very dear to me woke up proclaiming that in just few days he would be 60 years old. He began proclaiming his eminent birthday and went on and on until I really wanted to pop a knot on his heard. I'm still wondering if he really feels as negative as he seemed this morning. If he does, well, I just don't know what to do with him. On one hand, it's really good that he is realistic about the future and the fact that our numbered days are running out. On the other hand, it drives me just a little bit insane to be reminded on a regular basis just how numbered our days are. Even as I write this, I wonder if I should "out" him because some of you will be shocked and some of you will be just a little distressed. As for myself, I've got three more years until I'm 60 and I intend to live those three years with intention. That's not to say my sweet husband doesn't live with intention. He certainly does. He's one of the most faithful of the faithful. He loves God deeply. He's an anchor and as steady as a rock which I suppose is the reason it bothers me when I perceive him as negative. Oh well, whatever! He's provoked me into thought and that can never be a bad thing. But for the record, I still want to pop a knot on his head.

I received a morning and evening devotional from said husband for Christmas. It starts on January 1 so I've been waiting to use it. I decided this morning to go ahead and take a peek at December 31 for the coming year. The message was timely…especially since Darling was so doom and gloom as soon as I opened my eyes today.

"I leave you peace, my peace I give you. I do not give it to you as the world does. So don't let your hearts be troubled or afraid." John 14:27 Can I just say, "THANK YOU, JESUS!"

And then,

"Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever." Psalm 23:6 Can I get an "AMEN!"

Because I belong to Jesus, I can trust that I don't have to be troubled by getting older or afraid of death. Because I belong to Jesus, I can know that goodness and mercy will follow me whether I live 20 more minutes or 20 more years.

So, dear readers, it's really just as simple as putting your faith in Christ Jesus and your life in His hands. And that's the truth.

Jes and Mrs. W

Sometimes we have a hard time grasping just how much God loves us. In fact, I've talked to lots of people that feel as if there as a God but he's disinterested, far away, and pretty much involved in our lives. As far as the Bible goes, all they see is an antiquated bunch of stories that reveal God as vindictive and angry. I know what I'm talking about here, because I used to believe the same way. In fact, the only reason I could think of to become a Christian and be "good" was so I could miss Hell when I died. I mean really, who wants to "bust Hell wide open" after all the stuff I'd gone through here in this life?

Over the years, I began to see the real nature of God. As a parent, God used example after example of how I love my own children, to show me who He really is...and He wasn't at all vindictive, angry or far away. Here is one of my favorites.

When Jes and Blake (my children) were young, my husband was in seminary. We live in seminary housing and for the most part, the neighborhood was as very safe place, made up of only seminary students and their families. The children were free to romp and play without worry of harm. The school bus picked them up every day and parents could watch their children board the bus from their balconies. Jes was in kindergarten and walked to the bus stop every day with his older sister, Blake who was in the 3rd grade.

On this particular day, I received a call from Blake after school...
"Mom! Today at the bus stop Mrs. W grabbed Jes by the arm and yanked him hard."
I could feel my blood begin to boil. Someone had put their hand on my baby? I don't think so!
"Blake, " I said gently, "Tell me exactly what happened..."
Blake proceeded to tell me how Jes and Mrs. W's little boy, who was the same age as Jes, got into a tussle, pushing each other as little boy's do. Mrs. W proceeded to yank Jes away from her son and put him in the back of the bus line while not addressing her son at all.
Now, parents...do I even have to tell you how livid I was? I calmed myself down and told Blake, I'd be home shortly to see about Jes and I was sure he would be fine.

As soon as I hung up with Blake, I immediately found Mrs. W's number and began dialing...
"Mrs. W? This is Mrs. Sterling." I said.
Mrs. W then began breathlessly and defensively rattling off the mornings events. "I wanted to speak with you and tell you what happened..."
Calmly but very firmly, I interrupted her diatribe. "Mrs. W, I only have one thing to say to you...don't ever TOUCH my son again."
"But you don't understand!" she whined.
"NO, you don't understand Mrs. W. Don't ever touch my son again. You were out of line and no matter what he did, you had no right to touch my child. DON'T EVER DO IT AGAIN!
"But!" she said.
"No buts ." I said, "Don't touch my child ever...EVER."

With that I hung up the phone and tried to calm down. You see, Jes was my child and it was my right and responsibility to discipline him and no one else's...well, except his daddy's. I loved him. I knew what was best for him and I knew I'd never hurt him even if I spanked him. I could be trusted. Mrs. W couldn't. He didn't belong to her. Jes was my baby.

Years, after the incident, God used it to show me His love for His babies and the message came through clearly. God loves His babies like a protective parent. If you're a good parent, you know what I mean. If God loves me even half as much as I love my children and grandchildren, how can I not be drawn to him and cry to him,

"Abba, father!"

Prayer:
Heavenly, Father...Daddy. Show your babies your love and true nature today. Because we aren't perfect, we don't always reflect your love and true character. Forgive us! Please draw your babies into an intimate love relationship with you. In Jesus Name...Amen.

What Are You Seeking? What Am I Seeking?

Sometimes God speaks to us loudly and clearly. This morning was one such time for me. I was having my morning coffee and a little prayer time. I wasn't really expecting to "hear" from God. That's so me. I'm prone to rattle off my list of wants and wishes, pleas and partitions to God and then I don't stop long enough to just simply "be" in His presence. I don't wait for the still, small voice of God. I jump into my day and hurry up to hurry. But this morning was different. Sitting on my back porch, I bowed my head and just began speaking my heart to God and as I sat there in the stillness of the early morning, I heard Him speak: "Seek me first." That was all. Simply to seek Him first about all else.

The full verse is this:

"But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things[c] shall be added to you. (NKJV) Luke 12:31

Listen to more from this passage in one of my favorite translations of the Bible (The Message):

29-32 “What I’m trying to do here is get you to relax, not be so preoccupied with getting so you can respond to God’s giving. People who don’t know God and the way he works fuss over these things, but you know both God and how he works. Steep yourself in God-reality, God-initiative, God-provisions. You’ll find all your everyday human concerns will be met. Don’t be afraid of missing out. You’re my dearest friends! The Father wants to give you the very kingdom itself.
33-34 “Be generous. Give to the poor. Get yourselves a bank that can’t go bankrupt, a bank in heaven far from bankrobbers, safe from embezzlers, a bank you can bank on. It’s obvious, isn’t it? The place where your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being.

As I read "Don't be afraid of missing out", a reality jumped at me. That's it! That's me! I'm so afraid I'm going to miss something here during this earthly life, I find myself running from this project to that project, from this event to that event, from this creative endeavor to that creative endeavor. I find myself writing, creating, cooking, planning, running, jumping, seeking, and what happens? I miss the most important thing about life...

"Seek me first."

Three little words but words packed full of eternal truth.

Dear Jesus, Please keep me on track. Please keep me focused on You. Help me to center on You. I thank You that You have promised what You start, You complete!

Grief Stricken

Yesterday was a rough day. To tell the truth, the tears started coming about 1:00 p.m. and continued off and on until I finally went to sleep last night. I was missing my sweet Momma. I found myself in the PIT of despair and I'm not being overly dramatic. I just couldn't' get myself together. Honestly, all I could feel was pain...the pain of being separated from my mother. All the cliques, good intentions, nice thoughts, even prayers didn't seem to bring me out of the funk I was in. I was like an inconsolable colicky infant. In the middle of my despair I wrote this poem...



I think I need to die

Lay down and not get up

To leave this world and sorrow behind

And walk into the waiting light

What kind of journey would it be

To leave this life behind

The hurt

The sorrow

The ache of loss

Swallowed up in death's bright light

To travel where my soul mates live

And are now complete

If not for the few I truly love

I would

Pray my soul to rest

I see the day I'll long to take that flight

The day my loss is complete



First of all, don't think I'm suicidal. I'm not. And don't feel sorry for me. I don't need pity. I just had a bad day. I had a day of grief. I shared this with you because I want you to know I know how you feel. You aren't alone. I want you to know even after the darkest night, the sun comes up. After the darkness, I rise up and meet the day.

18 For I consider that our present sufferings cannot even be compared to the coming glory that will be revealed to us. 19 For the creation eagerly waits for the revelation of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility—not willingly but because of God who subjected it—in hope 21 that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage of decay into the glorious freedom of God’s children. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers together until now. 23 Not only this, but we ourselves also, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we eagerly await our adoption, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope, because who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with endurance.
26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how we should pray, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with inexpressible groanings. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes on behalf of the saints according to God’s will. 28 And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose, 29 because those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; and those he called, he also justified; and those he justified, he also glorified.
31 What then shall we say about these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 Indeed, he who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, freely give us all things?
Romans 8:18-32

Sometimes answers don't come fast but they always come because He is faithful.

REJOICE!

My mother had just died. We were sitting the "family room" at the hospital. Overcome by a sorrow none of us had ever felt before, my youngest sister said, "I've got something to tell you and I think I was supposed to tell you sooner. " As she, Carly (her oldest child) and Daddy, rushed from the Laurens County Hospital to Richland Memorial some 70ish miles away behind a screaming ambulance, my sister heard these words loud and clear: "This is the day the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it." At the same time she heard these rather misplaced words of God, they were speeding by the Newberry exit, where our mother had gone into a fatal cardiac arrest. Over and over in the months since our precious Momma died, we have been challenged to, "Rejoice". How do you rejoice in the middle of the deepest sorrow you've ever felt? How? And yet, God keeps revealing to each of us that REJOICE is exactly what we must do. One week before my mother's death, I felt an insatiable need to find out all I could about Heaven. Even though Momma was very sick, I didn't have any idea the next week we would say our Earthly good-byes to her. It didn't occur to me at the time but God was getting me ready for her passing. I read two books. One was "To Heaven and Back" by Dr. Mary C. Neal, MD. The other was by Dr. Eben Alexander, called "Proof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon’s Journey into the Afterlife ". What I found in Dr. Neal's book was a beautiful story of hope from a Christian's point of view. From Dr. Alexander's book I gleaned insight into death from a medical viewpoint. Both books were helpful and God used Dr. Neal and Dr. Alexander's experiences of death, to once again, confirm His total love and peace to me. In Dr. Neal's book she states "joy is a state of mind and a state of being. It reflects a conscious choice to believe in the promises of the Bible. After her death experience and she was recuperating from massive injuries sustained in a kayaking accident, one of the verses that came to her was, "Rejoice always." 1 Thess 5:16. In pain and broken, Dr. Neal heard God speak plainly. "REJOICE." A few weeks ago while I was visiting with my father, I found yet another gift my mother left behind. While flipping through her tattered and worn bible, I found this verse yet again. She had it dog eared: "Rejoice always". My mother believed the words of God and His command to rejoice even in the midst of great physical pain. My family has had our faith challenged through our sorrow but all of us have been reassured that what we have in Christ is, indeed, real. And it's not only real but He has been teaching us to "REJOICE". In the middle of an unfathomably deep hurt and sorrow, we are experiencing joy. We are experience joy because we are experiencing God. Since Momma died, I've felt the need to read the words of Jesus beginning in John. Just last night I read these words, the recorded words of Jesus: "Do not let your hearts be distressed. You believe in God; believe also in me. There are many dwelling places in my Father's house. Otherwise, I would have told you, because I am going away to make ready a place for you. And if I go and make ready a place for you, I will come again and take you to be with me, so that where I am you may be too. And you know the way where I am going." Thomas said, "Lord, we don't know where you are going. How can we know the way? " Jesus replied, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you have known me, you will know my Father too. And from now on you do know him and have seen him." John 14:14-7 My momma is now living that reality. Do I still grieve for her? Yes. Do I miss her? Yes. Do I long for her? Yes. But because of Jesus, I will see her again and so will my father, my brother and sisters. And because of Jesus, who he is and what he did...we can REJOICE! ” Rejoice in your hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer." Romans 12:12 (RSV)

Forgiveness? Again?

Seems like the theme of this weekend for some of us was “Forgiveness”. Sunday morning I almost didn’t go to church because my head hurt. I know, a simple headache isn’t that big of a deal but don’t you remember I fell down seven concrete steps just 8 weeks ago and fractured my skull…cut me some slack! LOL! However, I got up and got ready in record time and I’m so glad I did. NO, the fact that I went to church doesn’t mean I’m a “good” Christian. (I’ve found through the years that the only thing mere church attendance is good for is to enhance my feelings of self righteousness. After all, it’s part of being a “good” pastor’s wife to attend church but that’s another story. Let’s get back to “FORGIVENESS”. I’m so glad I went to worship yesterday because God had a little something to say to me about my unforgiving attitude. You see, I’m not always a forgiving person. Sometimes I hold on to a grudge as if it were my life raft in the middle of the ocean. And I’d been nursing a “certain” grudge for almost a year like a mother nursing a hungry newborn. So, imagine my angst when my husband got up and began to preach on the very subject I’ve been so creatively avoiding…FORGIVENESS. And then as if THAT wasn’t enough, a friend walked up to me after the service and shared that she had been in a women’s group the day before and FORGIVENESS was the theme. “Yeah, yeah, that’s good,” I thought, ”Wasn’t God good to reinforce His message to HER!” Sticking a sheet of paper in my face, she gave me some information on forgiveness she had received from Saturday’s speaker. It was later in the day when I realized God was really speaking loud and clear to me. It was time for me to stop acting like a wounded animal and forgive. I’d prayed during the sermon, asking God to “help me to forgive” and now I had the “how to” right in my grimy little hands. Isn’t that so like Him? He not only told me to forgive, He provided the practical application of HOW to forgive (in written form no less)! The bottom line is this: When Jesus hung on the cross HE taught us how to forgive. Looking down at the angry, jeering, self righteous crowd He said, “Father, forgive them. They don’t know what they’re doing.”

The Fall

15 That is why they stand before God's throne and serve him day and night in his temple. He who sits on the throne will protect them with his presence. Revelation 7:15 (Good News Bible) It began as one of those once in a lifetime trips...my siblings, sister in law and me in NYC for a long weekend.  The plan was to celebrate my sister, Cathy's, 50 birthday.  The first part of the trip was fantastic. On the first day alone we managed to cram a trip to Chinatown for some great "fake" designer purses, sunglasses and watches where we heard a group of Chinese gentlemen playing the music of their forefathers in the park.  Then we canvassed Little Italy and had the best pizza I've ever put in my mouth.  Next we caught the subway and what an experience that was (complete with hustlers trying to "help" us out by asking us if with like to use their boot legged metro cards, we declined of course!).  We were crammed inside the subway car literally cheek to cheek (both kinds of cheeks!) and given the ride of our lives.  Finally, we went to Ground Zero which was extremely moving and a very sobering experience.  After a little rest, we hit Time Square for supper and just to simply take in the lights, people and excitement in the heart of city at night.  Not bad for the first day! But, oh, what a difference a day makes!  Sunday morning my sisters and I were headed down to the lobby to meet my brother and his wife for another day of sightseeing that included a Broadway play. We had been taking the stairs in the hotel because we didn't want to wait for the elevator (which by the way, was the only  slow moving thing in NYC!).  On this day, I was dressed in sensible shoes, the kind with non skid bottoms and lots of good arch support and a very small purse because who wants to lug a big handbag through the city? I was being careful, sensible, even acting my age for change. We went down the stairs in a line and I made sure to hold on to the railing because I'm not getting any younger, you know?  And then it happened, all at once I realized I was falling down seven concrete steps face first.  There was absolutely nothing I could do to stop myself. I vaguely remember trying to regrasp the handrails. I vaguely remember the tumbling feeling. I vaguely remember thinking, "This is bad."  At the bottom of the steps, I rolled over and opened my eyes to the horrified stares of my two younger sisters and thought, "I must be going to die because they look really scared...please don't look at me that way."  I also had a sense of wanting to reassure them that I wasn't going to die and so I said, "I'm okay, I'm okay!"  Of course, I wasn't okay but I was alive and at that moment it was all that mattered.  In the next few seconds, my brother, sister in law and hotel staff burst into the stairwell and I have to say, the look on my brother's face didn't make me feel any better.  My sister, Cathy, was yelling "Call 911!"  "Get me some ice!" (she's a nurse) and I realized just how bad my situation was.  I lifted my hand and felt my head and it felt as if I had a huge, hard, soccer ball where my forehead was supposed to be.  I realized I was bleeding from somewhere.  It didn't take but just a few minutes before the ambulance arrived and I was taken to the hospital but before the EMTs arrived, my dear dear brother had the presence of mind to say, "Let's just pray."  David, Cathy, Carole and Tami gathered around me, touching me and we closed our eyes and called on our Heavenly Father.  I don't remember what David prayed.  It doesn't matter.  What matters is that in the midst of shock, trauma, and fear, God was there and He was in control.  Obviously, I didn't die or I wouldn't be writing this but I'll tell you this much, even if I had, God would have still been there in that stairwell on Sunday morning, August 19, 2012 with all of us.  For that, I am eternally grateful.