Horse Power

Psalm 20:7 , "Some trust in chariots, and some in horses; But we will remember the name of the Lord our God."

    

As I watched my two oldest sons pouring over the Auto Trader for the best deal on a new car they looked much as they did as children looking at a favorite book, heads bent together, concentrating on each detail.  It occurred to me that things haven’t changed much in 2000 years.  In Bible times horses and chariots were a sign of a man’s power and worth.  These days not only is your net value evaluated by what you drive, but the ads say that your car is an extension of YOU. That could be pretty discouraging if you are forced to drive your mother’s old Pontiac. Horses can stumble and fall, founder, or become lame and useless.  Cars rust over time and become “last seasons model” in a few months.   When I remember the name of the Lord my God, I am reminded of the majesty of His creation.  The raging rivers and the sweet smell of wild roses, the beautiful canvas of nature along with the dainty little fingers of a new born baby.   My trust could never be in any thing that I have amassed for myself because that would only be a temporary illusion of safety. Even a beautiful gold plated chariot pulled by a black Arabian horse or a silver BMW in the model of choice is nothing when compared to the name of the Lord our God. 

More Than Enough!

Luke 9:15-17 “And they did so, and made them all sit down. Then He took the five loaves and the two fish, and looking up to heaven, He blessed and broke them, and gave them to the disciples to set before the multitude. So they all ate and were filled, and twelve baskets of the leftover fragments were taken up by them.

 

I have often thought of these verses while living as a Pastor’s wife.  My husband has always been very hospitable.  His mother taught him well.  This area of my life continues to be one of constant stretching.  I’m really not sure why I resent crawling out of my comfort zone.  Perhaps it was due to the time we had a missionary couple from Mexico stay with us for a week and the wife didn’t speak a word of English.  My husband never really understood why I was so uncomfortable.  When strangers appear at your door to spend an undetermined amount of nights at your home the first few minutes are the most awkward.  He always managed to be unavailable when strange house guests arrived.  I always hated small talk and it is especially hard when they don’t understand a word you are saying. After the Sunday morning service I could (and still can) always count on at least 2 guests for lunch.  It could be more if Paul saw someone who looked hungry or lonesome (college students are really good at looking hungry and lonesome).  I know he always felt like he was going to be in trouble but it usually didn’t stop him and if it did he often let me know that I had caused him to have inhibitions that he was never born to have.  One of my biggest fears or excuses was the idea of running out of roast beef or whatever I was serving. In 30 years that has never happened.  God always blessed our provision so that each dish made it around our large table at least one time.  We never had leftovers but we do have baskets of happy memories.

This Little Light of Mine

Luke 8:15-16 “But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience. No one, when he has lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or puts it under a bed, but sets it on a lampstand, that those who enter may see the light.

 

I love teaching the children’s song “This Little Light of Mine” to sweet little cherubs with chubby fingers.  They love to master it and are happy to swing those pointers and sing those words at an early age.  Should we “hide them under a bushel”? They shout “NO” with an air of determination and commitment.  Unfortunately we get older and less enthusiastic about our light being visible to a lost world.  This verse tells us that those who have heard the word with a noble and good heart patiently bear fruit.  Don’t be too hard on yourself when you feel as though you stumble over the same things over and over.  I remember when my Dad accepted Christ and confided in my mother that he didn’t know if he could walk the walk.  My encouragement to them both was that God doesn’t expect instant maturity.  We walk one day and when we get out of bed in the morning we pray for strength to walk the next.  We let our light shine which exposes all of us…our failures and victories….for all the world to see.  They notice not our instant success but that we walk in patience with good and noble hearts. 

The Good Neighbor

Exodus 23:4 "If you meet your enemy's ox or his donkey going astray, you shall surely bring it back to him again.”

 

Being a good neighbor should come naturally to a man made in God’s image.  The Groves family were our neighbors.  They were farmers who also raised Clydesdales and sold them to the Budweiser Corporation.  We would occasionally walk down and visit when a new little colt was born.  “Little” is a word I use lightly since even the babies were enormous.  I recall one morning that one of the herd wandered down to our house and was contentedly munching in my father’s garden.  We were so excited to see the beautiful creature up close and personal that it seemed like a holiday, even better than a trip to the zoo.  My Dad, being a good neighbor (and slightly annoyed that this giant was eating his carrots) decided to grab him by the halter and I suppose lead him back home.  Well, if you are a horse of many tons and you want to eat carrots out of the neighbor’s garden, a Hoosier coming toward you with a rope might resemble a pest.  My dad grabbed the halter while the horse was happily munching and the Clydesdale slowly lifted up his large head.  I remember watching my Dad’s feet leave the ground.  I wanted to laugh but thought better of it.  My father was small in stature but big in attitude and he had met his match.  That big boy wasn’t going anywhere.  We called for the experts and the handsome fellow gently plodded home with his master.  Our small kindnesses to our neighbors generate memories that are sweet and lasting.  Those who don’t know our Savior are drawn to Him through our random acts of kindness and even the toughest of those hardened hearts can be gently led to the Savior.

Genesis 8:22 "While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat,  winter and summer, and day and night shall not cease."

 

I have always loved spring time.  I guess this verse was written with Wyoming in mind….there’s no mention of spring.  Occasionally we get a surprise spring-like day in the middle of January so we take the season as we can get it….whenever it may happen.  Praise the Lord that He promises to maintain the seasons while the earth remains!  I have to blush a little when I think of myself enjoying spring as a child in Seward, Illinois.  I used to run barefoot in a field behind my house and sing into the cornflowers.  No one saw me except for God and a few dairy cows.  I can still feel that cool new grass on my feet.  I loved to learn new songs and try them out when no one was looking.  I especially enjoyed my music classes in grade school and when they threw out some old music books I begged the teacher to let me take them home.  My sisters and I would prop them up in the kitchen window and sing while we did the dishes.  In my heart spring time and music go hand in hand and I anxiously look forward to the melody of new birth in the gift of spring….whenever that may come.

The 10 cent Gamble

Colossians 2:8-10 “Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ.  For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.

 

Don’t you hate it when you finally get that thing you desire and you find out that it wasn’t really as great as the advertisement?  I remember they used to have ads in the back of comic books picturing a whole box of little toys for only 10 cents.  First of all, my comic book was probably vintage, but I taped my dime to an envelope and mailed it in.  I was pretty disgusted when I got nothing in return. The world is really good at imitating true happiness.  They tell us that joy comes from fame and fortune, real estate and power. Yet the richest most powerful people are empty shells always searching for their next chance to be in the spotlight.  Their lives are full of eccentricity and loneliness.  They have been cheated by the philosophy and deceit of the world.  Even the poorest of believers have peace and contentment that the wealthy cannot buy.  We are complete in Christ.  Though they may never recognize their true source of happiness without the enlightening of the Holy Spirit, their picture is clear to those who belong to God.  The things of this world are temporary and sour compared to the peace and contentment found in Christ.

His Eye is on the Sparrow

Matthew 10:29-31 “Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will.  But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.   Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

 

How providential that I dreamed of hummingbirds last night! There is something sweet about a bird.  Not all birds of course.  I remember when we lived in Vedauwoo and I was slowly driving down the Forest Service road.  There was a large golden eagle on the ground and the closer I got the more I wondered if he was hurt or injured because he just kept looking at me…not moving.  When I finally got within a few feet he took off with great sweeping wings while trying to hang onto his lunch…a large prairie dog.  I have no love for prairie dogs but that little guy was blessed with a second chance in life because in haste to get away from the scary lady in the Buick, the eagle dropped him in his tracks.  A shudder ran down my spine when I saw the power of those large talons.  The birds that I am referring to are the little songbirds and sparrows that never bother anyone and give us great pleasure with their music straight from heaven.  When one is killed it sparks a moment of sadness for the loss of nature at its best.  Our cat Bob with the six toes was an avid hunter.  We used to love to watch the hummingbirds feed at our window and so did he.  We had to make sure that he didn’t get too close and he actually caught one in a flash.  We yelled and the lucky little fellow escaped while we collectively breathed a sigh of relief.  He did the same thing one summer day when he came carrying a meadowlark in his mouth, as proud as he could be.  Paul took it from him and amazingly the beautiful creature woke up and flew away.  What a comfort to know that God sees each little sparrow, the lowliest of birds, and those second chances are carefully monitored from on high.  Jesus said that we are worth much more to him than many sparrows.  He sees each time we fall and is providentially involved in every aspect of our lives.  When you see those humble little birds with no means of protection, remember that He knows each one and cares even more for you.

 

PABLO STUDYING SPANISH ON OUR PATIO.  October 6th, 2012

If I were a bug on a freshly painted watercolor it would be only a small picture of the all encompasing colors of Costa Rica.  It surrounds you and permeates your senses with a warm, drippy overload.  Paul was trying to identify the prominent smell that he equates with the country.  He and his fine-tuned nose came up with a cedar-tobacco-flowery-grill scent.  If only we could package it in a candle or air freshner!  I find myself often feeling like a candle.  Melting....melting......melting!

Christmas Memories of the hiding place

When I think of Christmas I always remember that horrible little closet in the "scary" room at our farm house in Seward, Illinois. Mom and Daddy scared us into never entering that room because the floors were unsafe and I always imagined myself falling through the boards and landing on the kitchen table. It made for a very good hiding place for all of our Christmas gifts. They locked the door somehow...yet there was a very large crack that little eyes could peer through and imagine what wonders were in store there. What is that driving urge that compels us to want to know what our gifts are...then feeling guilty for knowing? You never let on that you actually may have seen your metal doll house with the colorful plastic furniture through that little crack in the door. The best part of Christmas are those fun memories and the guilt that we carry after 52 holidays of peeking in those forbidden places and remembering the thrill of waking up on Christmas morning and finding out that all those great gifts were really yours and not the property of your little sister.

Godly Influence

As a mother, it is hard to determine purity of thought. Do I desire for my children to have adventure, travel the world, and influence others for Christ? My mother's heart aches while the Holy Spirit thrills inside my mortal being. I could never expand the universe solo. The people touched by the children of my heart and body are many and I take great joy in God's use of a simple Indiana freckle face. Why would I ever want my children to gather around my skirts and be unused, unhappy, and bored when God has great and wonderful things for them to accomplish? I remember watching a nest of robins as the mother carefully fed and cared for her 3 little hatchlings. They grew quickly and went from bobbing bald babies to punk rockers with funny feathers sticking up all over their heads. As they became more and more curious about the world outside their little lilac bush, they began to teeter on the edge of the nest. I cringed when I saw them rocking on the brink of disaster, but mama robin didn't seem to be too disturbed. Then one day, they were gone. I thought that they had all flown away when I noticed one little fellow hopping around on the ground having a tough time figuring out how to get his awkward little body in motion with his flailing wings. My motherly instinct was to scoop him up and place him back in the nest, but I read that robins allow their young ones to hop around while they still care for them, bring them food, and attempt to scare away predators. Eventually, they learn to fly, with just a little more time and attention. Of course, mama robin starts on the next brood fairly quickly, knowing that if she kept them all at home in the nest, things would become very ugly.