All in Relationship with God
A young mother raised in a culture hostile to Christianity shared a joyful experience with me. After discovering the love of God through Jesus Christ, she immediately noticed how the sky glistened with a deep blue and the leaves on trees reflected various shades of green!
Dad had a particular order for decorating our Christmas tree. First, secure the tree in its stand and wrap it with strands of multicolored, large-bulbed lights all pointing up. Then he and Mom draped aluminum foil garland in perfect arcs that alternated between high and low points from top to bottom at each level. Once the garland was placed, my brothers and I were allowed to add some ornaments, if they were evenly spaced and hung from branches—not the garland or lights. We worked in solemn silence. Mom and Dad gently secured antique, fragile glass ornaments around the top branches. The final step was to grab lots of foil tinsel and place it over the garland, so each piece was straight and untangled. After Christmas, we tediously removed the tinsel strands and packed them back in their designated boxes for use the following year.
Have you been at a restaurant and the noise level is so loud that you cannot hear the person seated right next to you? You can see their mouth moving, but you have no idea what they are saying. Frustrating, right?
While viewing a program featuring marine life that inhabits coral reefs, I recalled my sister’s tabletop aquarium. Names of her tropical fish flooded my mind—Guppies, Mollies, Swordtails, Tetras and the ever-graceful Angelfish. I instantly moved closer to the television screen mesmerized by their beauty as they swam in their natural habitats.
A visit from my brother and sister-in-law provided multiple opportunities to visit during meals. Some conversations focused on health needs. Another time we discussed the content of our best-loved books. My favorite meal, though, included hilarious stories of my brother’s adolescent escapades!
What happens when you first have an awareness of waking up in the morning? To where or what does your mind turn? A dream you had? Your overfull to-do list? Your cell phone? Your current crisis? Your work commute in heavy traffic? Your health concern? I’d have to answer yes to all of these at one time or another.
Do you like to please others? I like to see people smile!
Sometimes there are other sweet things that are evidence of being pleased such as…
a baby’s responsive cuddle as she falls into her mama’s outreached arms;
a puppy’s tail wagging to a bowl of food; or
a cheerful, belly-filled family excitedly chattering over a special homecooked meal by mom.
The responses of others can speak volumes on approval.
During the dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem, Solomon prayed with his arms stretched toward heaven. He pleaded with God to hear, to listen, to respond, and to forgive the sins of the Israelites. He followed his prayer of dedication with sacrificial offerings.
A clip of a reality courtroom program came up on my social media feed. A cute little dog was involved so I had to watch it. Both the defendant (a woman) and the plaintiff (a man) claimed that the dog belonged to them, and they both provided supporting documentation.
Living out of town, our family has been graced with numerous wild animals over the years. Recently, a family of foxes selected the deck in our backyard to nest under. Mesmerized, we watch the mother fox and her four kits scamper around the yard, chase their siblings, and tumble over each other.
I learned that I can only stand firm in the Lord’s strength… this is the key!
Bishop Wahome of Kenya’s African Inland Church smiled while describing his newly adopted son. He learned of fostering and adoption through his time visiting in Texas. His joy and love for his newly adopted son reflects the joy God experienced when He adopted me as an eight-year-old little girl.
A biblical passage in the Old Testament triggers a somber memory: The Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the hearts of your descendants…. (Deuteronomy 30:6a). I wince as I recall holding my newborn sons during their circumcisions. Those mental images confirm that circumcision of my heart will involve pain as God removes anything that prevents Him from claiming first place.
I occasionally wear my father’s WWII ID bracelet. He wore it as a pilot and, tragically, as a prisoner of war. When reading Paul’s words of Christians being “in” Christ, I glanced at the I.D. bracelet and reflected on Dad’s time “in” a guarded compound—a very different experience from being “in Christ.”
Biscuit, our dog, looks for a lap when we sit down. He is on the floor beside our feet when a lap is unavailable. He anticipates a ride in the car when he hears keys jingling. He follows us outdoors. He barks and spins in circles of excitement when invited to go for a walk. While in bed, he snuggles as close between us as he can. He cuddles with me in the sunroom every morning for quiet time with God.
The Yorkie terrier mix was two-and-a-half years old when we rescued him from the pet adoption center. His previous owners had surrendered him a week earlier due to neglect. The reason given was that they did not have time for him. The Center caretaker confirmed this by observing the long, matted fur coat and his insecure behaviors. He carried the dog like a twelve-pound infant child and referred to the pup as “Shiloh.”
I admit, when I was young, I had a rebellious side within me, and I knew it.
There were two sides within me that fought each other.
The good side knew the right things God wanted me to do, and the rebellious side knew too, but ignored God.
If Jesus took the time he needed to get on board and ready for the day, how much more do we need to do the same thing. Spiritual readiness does not happen by accident, we must be intentional about it.
Realizing that I have never had good control over my thoughts and feelings was a turning point. A biblical counselor once told me that my feelings were my idol. It was a tough truth to swallow.
