Redirection

Some people call it retirement, but that's not how I look at this change in my life.  I have quit working at Nelson Farm Supply after 17 years; my last day was December 7.  I quit just in time to travel to Muscatine on December 9 to see Emmy in her Christmas program then get back home and prepare for our family Christmas on Saturday, December 14.

This week I have had some time to get a little perspective.  I'm ready to change course, to redirect my life and my time.  I'm very excited that Jon will be done working also this month.  His last official day is December 25, but his last day of reporting to work will be December 23.  He will be taking a little time to let his shoulder heal from a fall he took about 3 weeks ago...progress is slow. After that he will be working for Brad and is on a list of people that can be called away to storm areas to assess the damage that needs to be fixed.  And, of course, he will enjoy working in his wood shop!

We will, obviously, be busy grandparents.  With Megan's twins coming in the spring, programs, concerts, ball games, and hanging out our lives will be full of smiles and miles.  My free time is less defined than Jon's.  I'm looking forward to learning a couple of new things and picking up some old interests.  I want to write more and take lots of pictures.  What I will be avoiding is a schedule so that I can stay free to take care of kids or meet needs as they arise.

I am blessed beyond words and look forward to what God has in store for me as I walk with Him day by day.  I know intercession will be foremost; there are so many needs to pray for.  I'm always happy to receive prayer requests and am thrilled to have more freedom to spend time praying without so many distractions.

Redirection describes the focus of the hours of my day...now freer to focus on hearing God's voice and seeing His hand, thanking Him for His constant gifts of grace.  Our lives are filled with wonder and grace and awe because of who He is and all He has created around us and in us.  I pray your heart will overflow as you celebrate Christmas this year, having moments filled with the quiet expectation of His arrival in you and your family and your home.  We are blessed!

Grace Over Performance

A few days ago I read an interview with the grandson of Billy Graham, TullianTchividjian.  He's written a book named "One Way Love:  Inexhaustible Grace for an Exhausted World".  I'm putting a link to the article here

http://jonathanmerritt.religionnews.com/2013/10/02/tullian-tchividjian/

The interview focused on the failure of the church to share the good news of grace in favor of setting standards of behavior modification which results in legalism and desperation.  I must heartily agree.

No matter how convinced I am about the truth of God's grace filling all things and being sufficient to meet and redeem every sin and evil, I can so easily find myself thinking in terms of my own works and performance.  Am I the only one? Having an intimate relationship with Christ is not achieved by more Bible reading, more prayer, or more church attendance and service.  We think that God will be more pleased with us if we work harder, improve our character, give more of our time, clean up all our personal habits, become kind, patient, and just like Jesus.  But all we succeed in doing is living by our own strength, which only lasts about 27 1/2 minutes on a good day.

When will we be completely convinced that what matters isn't what we do for God, but what He's already done for us?  He has accomplished all and offers it to us freely by His grace.  He gives His very own Spirit to move right in and take over, and if we would follow His voice all of God's will would be fulfilled in our lives.  It's His work in us, and we can do nothing of value that contributes to the outcome.  

The best we can do is to stop trying and fall into His arms of grace which never fail.  Let's admit our weakness, our failings, our sin, and our inability to be faithful and come humbly to His grace which will provide all for us.  Blessings and grace to you all!

Good Is Coming

I added a quote to my quote page the other day.  It goes like this:

"Yet I believe that good is coming to me--that good is always coming; though few have at all times the simplicity and the courage to believe it.  What we call evil, is the only and best shape, which, for the person and his condition at the time, could be assumed by the best good."  by Anodos in "Phantastes, a Faerie Romance for Men and Women" by George MacDonald.

I don't know about you, but I have to read that over a few times. The story is a fantasy adventure that takes Anodos through Fairy Land where his experiences challenge everything he had ever known as reality.  Along the way he grows and becomes a very different person by walking through the hardships and joys of this path.  Very often he was in despair and gave up hope of surviving, but in the end he can say that "good is always coming".

I also just finished the new book by Philip Yancey, "The Question That Never Goes Away".  It revisits the question he addressed decades ago, "Where Is God When It Hurts?"  He gives no pat, safe answers to the dilemma of suffering, but he does assure us of God's presence in the midst of it all.  He is the God who understands suffering and pain.  As God the Father, He lost a Son.  As Jesus, He laid down His life in incredible suffering and injustice.  He truly knows and stands with us in the midst of any and all pain.

And, yes, good is always coming.  Eternity holds more than we can ever dream, and all of this life with every pain and trial will be redeemed for good fully and forever.  Rejoice and be blessed!!

Bike Ride

Yesterday (Saturday) we went for a motorcycle ride with Jim and Janet Myler.  It was supposed to be a really hot day, but we met in Portsmouth at 1:00 and it was cloudy and about 81.  We rode north to Dow City, got sprinkled on, went on to Pisgah, still cloudy.  The temp actually dropped a little through the afternoon and was never over 81 again.  It was a GORGEOUS day to ride, and there was almost no traffic anywhere.

We went to Preparation Canyon and saw the great view.  We had not been there for maybe 12 years or more.  Here's my honey peeking over a sheer drop.

We made our way down to Beebeetown and ate supper at the Twisted Tail...excellent food!  All in all a great day with great friends!

LAY IT DOWN

What is it within me that always seeks its own?  The ego, the sin nature, the "I"?

Even though my heart and intent is to seek God, it is almost never that pure.

There is this other layer of what's in it for me.  I hate that.

I want You, Holy Spirit, to get rid of it, overcome it, kill it.

Wait, I have to kill it, don't I?  This can be only my choice.

That's harder.

That involves my will, making a choice, making a choice every moment

of every day to die to myself.  Help me!

That is exactly what I am here to do.  No, better than that.  Instead of helping you I am here to replace you.  You lay aside yourself and I take over.  Instead of struggling to conquer self, just lay it aside.  It may still be screaming in protest and full of its own agenda, but lay it down.  There is no need to be stronger.  You need to be weak, too weak to hold on to your own way.  Lay it down and let My life and peace invade your heart, ease your mind, soothe and heal your hurts.

This will be a constant, active surrender.  There is no autopilot setting.  When you identify that whisper of self-seeking within, you will have to make a deliberate choice to walk away from it. 

That whisper is always within the realm of possibility on this side of eternity.  You live in a fallen world and are not yet fully redeemed like you will be when I bring you home.  You do not, however, need to live at the mercy of that whisper that becomes louder and more insistent.  When you listen to the whisper it gains strength and power until you no longer remember how it feels to live in quiet obedience and surrender.  The sooner you lay it aside and send it packing, the easier it will be to live above the chaos and confusion that mixed motives create. 

There is no need for shame.  I remember your frailty and humanity, but because of the blood of My Son, I see you clothed in His righteousness and covered with His glory.  His sacrifice and resurrection has carried away all that was held to your account by nailing it to His cross.  You stand before Me free and whole, a vessel for My life and glory.  Lay aside all that does not come into agreement with Me and My truth.  I, alone, am worthy of defining your value.

Romans 5:8-9; Ephesians 4:20-32; Colossians 3:1-17; Colossians 2:13-14;

Jude v.24-25

Who's Hungry??

I love baking cookies.  Oatmeal chocolate chip to be exact.  It's a recipe from my Aunt Rhoda and has been a food group all its own in our family.  Once when my nephew was a little boy and at our house I asked him if he wanted a cookie.

He replied, "What kind of cookie?"

"Chocolate chip!" I answered, since that is the only kind of cookie there really is.

"What kind of chocolate chip?" was his immediate comeback.  He was already wise beyond his years.  He knew there was only one kind of chocolate chip cookie really worth eating.  And I'm happy to say I did not disappoint!

I know this recipe by heart, but occasionally I have messed it up, especially when there are other people around and I get distracted.  There are two different ingredients that I have left out at different times...vanilla and salt.  Now when I think of cookies I don't think of them as salty, but it seems to me that vanilla would be a vitally necessary ingredient!  So, so wrong!  When I have left out vanilla the taste is altered very little, and no one would ever know I messed up.  However, only one time have I ever left out the salt!  The entire batch had to be thrown out.  They were completely horrible!!

I was so surprised because, again, when I think of ingredients that go into cookies, vanilla goes along with the others much more than salt.  That reminds me that God calls us the salt of the world.  Do we fit in?  Not really.  Are we on the most popular list of what makes this world interesting or exciting?  Not so much.

However, God sees us as absolutely essential to the world even now in its fallen state.  The world will never recognize our worth, but God knows that we offer a flavor without which the world would be an intolerable place.

I don't know about you, but that really encourages me.  The world doesn't have to understand our worth or realize what we offer.  We make a real difference just by being in the mix as we love and pursue God letting His life flow through ours!

TWINS!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Yep, that's what I said!  Megan and Greg are expecting twins in March!  It all seems quite unreal, and everyone in the family is very excited.  There is quite the debate between Bria and Emmy and Tre and Tru as to whether they will be boys or girls or one of each!  They all want to be in the majority between boys and girls when the final count is in.  Oskar is quite pleased that there are two babies in Mommy's belly and has learned their temporary names very well.  Not sure if I have permission to share those, however.  :)  At this point he quite sure they are boys...we shall see!

As for Jon and I, we are just thrilled and delighted whatever the combination, of course.  We are praying often for healthy babies and mommy, and we appreciate your prayers as well!  Also, we would love to hear your best tips if you're experienced in twins because this is all new to all of us. Hopefully, we can be a help and not just be in the way.  I'd appreciate tips on how to do that well, also.

Today football season started for the Melby household.  First games were in Arlington, NE and we rode out there on the motorcycle.  It was beautiful day, and both the boys won their game!  All the fresh air makes me feel like I could sleep for a week, but I don't suppose that can happen...:)

School started this week for both the Holthe's and the Melby's, and everyone seems to be off to a great start.  Emmy especially is excited with how things have started out!  The only hiccup so far is commemorated with a bruise on Bria's hip, but she's a tough kid...she can handle it!  :)

Stay tuned for further updates and check out the Devotions 1-10 page when you have time. Blessings to all!

A New Page

There's a new page listed above the posts named Devotions 1-10.  These are the first ten devotions in my book "Fringes of His Ways".  I plan on eventually getting all the devotions on my blog posting ten per page.  I hope they can help you in your search for the God who loves you so much. Many blessings....

Yancey

We've decided that we have an alpaca.  Why, you ask?  Why not?  He's smaller than a llama, and really pretty cute.  His name is Yancey.  If you'd like to see him, you may wait a long time...he's very shy.  Our kids haven't seen him yet, so they're considering having us committed.  Of course, they'll have to catch us first, and I don't think Yancey will let them take us without a fight.  He is very fond of us.  From now on anything that goes wrong (especially in the back yard) is Yancey's fault, but he's worth it.  After all, who else do you know who has an alpaca?

LIVING ON PURPOSE

I need to be more deliberate, Lord, in the use of my time.

So much can be wasted away on things that may seem important

at the time, but in the end they are meaningless.

Purpose.

I need to have purpose in the time that I call my own,

especially at this stage of my life when I have

more free time and soon, much more free time.

I need a plan.

Living life on purpose, that is the ideal you seek.  It is a worthy goal.  The pace of life today makes it nearly impossible for you, for anyone, to feel like they are in control of their time and activities.  There is a constant demand for your involvement everywhere you turn.  Add to that the onslaught of media, noise, technology, and entertainment, and there is almost no space left in your life and heart for that which brings peace and helps you know purpose.  I understand.

Even though many of these demands are unique to this era, I am still the same God who reigns over all and I have not changed.  It is still My plan for you to walk with Me in a powerful, life-changing relationship that bears fruit and spills over into rivers of living water for others.  All of this requires a heart that truly desires this relationship and a mind that is disciplined to stay focused.  This is a relationship that lives and breathes and is constantly nourished by My Spirit.  You, My child, will have to actively choose to listen and be sensitive to My voice while tuning out the countless distractions clamoring for your attention. 

As you walk by My Spirit moment by moment you will see purpose  and kingdom living unfold before you.  This life does not promote itself or vie for the attention of the masses.  It quietly invades your day and helps you see with new eyes, hear with new ears, and carry My life into the tailor-made spaces that you inhabit.  The purpose becomes a path of discovery that leads you to see My grace everywhere you look.  You begin to see people the way I see them and love them with My love.  You see My gifts in the everyday moments that fill your day, and in the giving of thanks your heart is raised to the heavenly places where you are truly seated with Me.

Your vantage point changes everything.  You must remember that you are placed in Me, secure, safe, protected, kept, and loved.  The only true vision you have is through My eyes; the only wisdom or understanding you can possess is from My heart; the only way you can hear the cries of the world around you is through My ears.  It is from here that you can pray with power and effectiveness.  It is from here only that you can evaluate whether you are living life well or being consumed by the culture around you.

Sit here with Me.  Be still.  And know that only I am the God who changes everything and everyone I touch. Live life on purpose with Me.

Hebrews 13:8; John 7:38; John 15:26; Galatians 5:22-26;

Ephesians 2:4-10; Psalm 46:10

SOMETHING OLD, SOMETHING NEW

I've been struggling, Lord, to live as You would live.

I have been unable to get a grip on the reality of Your life in me

as my righteousness.

I've been living at the mercy of my feelings, and they can be relentless.

I know better in my head, but still wait for revelation from You

as to the reality of my life in the here and now.

You, My child, have been confused and that has led you to walk in ways that were never meant for you.  I established a covenant with Israel of old that promised them blessings abundant, primarily the blessing that I would be their God.  The condition of receiving these blessings was their obedience.  They were to listen to My voice and obey My commands.  Their faithfulness guaranteed that My blessing would follow, for, of course, I would be faithful to keep My part of the covenant.  They failed.  Miserably.  And every person ever born will also fail to hear My voice and give Me obedience.  Mankind is a fallen race and can never relate to Me in the way I created them to.  Yet that is still My heart's desire...an intimate relationship and communion with them.  Sin made that impossible.

Therefore, I sent My Son to die for all your sins and pay the penalty, clearing the way for a new covenant.  As a born again child of Mine you are a participant and beneficiary of that covenant.  It is My covenant not only with all believers, but with you personally.  Look at My word in Deuteronomy.

  "Therefore, you shall keep the commandments of the Lord your God, to walk in His ways and to fear Him." 

 Compare that to Jeremiah and Ezekiel.

 "I will put My law within them and on their heart I will write it; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people."  "And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances."

Do you see the difference?  In the old covenant man was to keep My commandments and thereby walk with Me and fear Me.  In the new covenant I, Myself, move into man writing My ways on a new heart and thereby causing him to obey.  The old way hinges on man's effort and ability to work up enough motivation and discipline to obey Me.  The new way rests on My Spirit giving man a new heart that longs to please Me and love Me and providing My very own power to follow through into obedience.

You, however, must choose which way you will live.  If you try hard enough I can guarantee that you will fail.  Every time.  If you relinquish your own efforts, knowing that they are futile, and choose instead to place all your faith in My promise to work all things I desire in you, I can guarantee a life lived, really lived, in the Spirit.  It will be a life of peace, victory over sin, comfort in all circumstances, wholeness, and holiness.  You will live the life you have dreamed of, humbly dependent and laying down your life in order to know Me.  And it will be effortless and full of joy...both yours and Mine.

This is the crowning jewel of My redemption, the mystery hidden from all the ages of time.  Not just that sins are forgiven and heaven awaits, but that I would live in you and through you even in this life and show Myself to the world as you live in it.  I wait for you.  Trust Me.

Deuteronomy 8:6; Jeremiah 31:33; Ezekiel 36:27



Freedom

It's Memorial Day, a day when we are all reminded of how expensive our freedom is.  It has cost the lives of millions of men and women over the centuries, and it continues to be costly today.

In terms of our salvation we know that freedom for us meant Christ's death on the cross...the ultimate price paid by the sinless Son of God.  There is another level of freedom we are meant to enjoy as God's beloved children.  We should be living lives that are free from the entangling grip of sin tripping us up in our daily lives.  We know how we should live, so we redouble our efforts and try harder.  We hopefully come to learn that our own efforts are worthless and we need to depend on Christ's life in us to live as we should. 

There is an example in the history of Israel of this kind of daily challenge to trust the Lord.  As the people were being led to their new promised land they were fully aware of the promises that God had set before them of a land of freedom and provision far greater than they had ever known.  Yet as soon as they experienced hardships of needing water and craving familiar foods, they're first reaction was to say, "Why did you bring us out of Egypt?"  They actually preferred to return to lives of slavery and bondage rather than adapt to changes in their appetites and comforts.

Are we so different?  We like what we like, and we want what we want.    We proclaim that we will follow Christ as He leads us into freedom, but when we are made uncomfortable we have a real decision to make.  It requires a strong faith that God's way is higher than ours and true surrender of our own agendas to follow Christ into all He has purchased for us.  We will only be able to lay ourselves aside moment by moment if we remember how great His love for us really is.

Now Available--Email subscription

I hope you've all had a nice Memorial Day weekend!  Ours has been fun...seeing family, friends, and sleeping in, too!  There is a box on the right hand side of this home page where you can enter your email address to receive email notifications whenever I've posted something new here.  I hope that will be convenient for you; I know it's hard to keep up without reminders. 

Blessings on all!

To Move or Not to Move

Do you like to know the plan?  Are you uncomfortable with uncertainty and not knowing what to expect from day to day?  Me too.  Part of my reading this morning was Numbers 9 where the Bible tells about the tabernacle, when completed, was filled with God's glory.  By day the tabernacle was covered by the cloud, and by night by the appearance of fire.

 As long as the cloud and fire remained over the tabernacle, the camp stayed in place.  If, when morning came, the cloud had lifted, they broke camp and moved where the cloud led them.  That sounds very nice and all, but can you imagine living this way?  They never knew how long they would stay in one place...overnight, a few days, months, or a year or more.  Not much room for planning ahead or putting down roots.  You wouldn't be getting too attached to your surroundings. 

I'm not saying that we need to live that radical a lifestyle, but can we aspire to be open to God's leading day by day, moment by moment?  Can we begin to agree with Him not to move ahead without His direction, and to not hesitate when He shows the way?  Let's seek His heart and mind about how He would have us live every day, every hour, every minute.  He has had lots of practice and will be faithful to lead.

Arise, Shine

One of the passages I read this morning was Isaiah 60, and it starts with this verse..."Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you."  The words that grab my attention are arise and shine.

Arise...get up, stand firm, meet the situation, open your eyes, open your ears, take stock of your resources, determine your position. 
Shine...praise Him, trust Him, leave all your cares with Him, depend fully on His life, give freely, give fully, rejoice, give thanks, pray always, love others, bless others, reach out.

This is how we are to live.  We are to arise and shine.  Every day.  All day.  In every circumstance.  In every joy.  In every pain.  In every trial.  In every temptation.  In every sorrow.  In every blessing.  In every victory.  In every answered prayer.  In every uncertainty.  In every disappointment.  In every dream.

How easy it is to live in the pit of our own making.  We forget how blessed we are and wallow in self-pity or despair while the Lord waits for us to step into the life He has provided in His Son.  In Him we can indeed arise and shine in every situation we face.  Trust all that God has provided and rely upon Him.

I'm Back!

It's been a long time since I published a post, and I think the time has come for me to pick this back up.  I hope that these posts will be helpful and encourage you to seek the Lord more fully, and I hope that your input here will help me as well. 

We, all of us who love the Lord, are family.  We share His life, His Spirit, and His heart for the world around us.  I tend to forget sometimes that we are supposed to depend on and help each other, and I go day to day making it on my own.  Isolation is one of Satan's more effective weapons.  It's my hope that we can come together here in this small way and support and help each other as we live the lives He has called us to.

Check in from time to time and share encouragement, insight, and hopefully some laughter, too.  Here's wishing you a great start to a great week!  Many blessings!