The front of our church erupted with white-trumpeted lilies this past Easter Sunday. The Easter lily has long been a sign of resurrection for many churches and its white flower symbolizing hope and purity. Legend tells that lilies were discovered in the Garden of Gethsemane after Christ died on the cross. Lilies grow from ugly dead looking bulbs. These bulbs are buried in the ground all winter – through terrible storms and cold endless nights. In spring they burst forth with new beautiful life. What a wonderful symbol of resurrection and life rising from death. The tradition of my church is different families purchase a lily for display on Easter in honor or in memory of someone. We did that this year and now that lily is gracing our dining room table. I enjoy this Easter lily three times. Once with my eyes – seeing this flower lifting its petals up in praise. A second time with my nose – a sweet fragrance trailing throughout the room. And third, with my heart … [Read more...]
It’s Spring!
I love spring. The new beginnings – trees spouting green tips, birds caroling from branch to branch, crisp fresh air rushing in from newly open windows and the earth awakening from its dull brown slumber. Spring is God's way of saying, 'One more time!' Robert Orben My Florida friend, Laura, knows I long for spring during the dreary cold Ohio winters. She sent me this quote last week that captures this season: "The snow has not yet left the earth, but spring is already asking to enter your heart. If you have ever recovered from a serious illness, you will be familiar with the blessed state when you are in a delicious state of anticipation, and are liable to smile without any obvious reason. Evidently that is what nature is experiencing just now. The ground is cold, mud and snow squelches under foot, but how cheerful, gentle and inviting everything is! The air is so clear and transparent that if you were to climb to the top of the pigeon loft or the bell tower, you feel you might … [Read more...]
Once Again – Amazed How God Uses Everything.
God uses everything. Why am I so amazed to realize that once again? We worship a God who loves to surprise us. Did any of you watch 60 Minutes last Sunday? They featured an experimental therapy at Duke University to treat brain cancer and the segment was called “Killing Cancer.” They infect tumors with the poliovirus and in some cases the tumor is gone! Polio- a disease we have fought to eliminate, which is good – I know people today who had polio as children and still have effects. Polio – just the word scared parents in the 1950s. I never in my wildest dreams thought I would hear: polio: cancer killer. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us… Ephesians 3: 20 Isn’t it amazing? God does immeasurably more that all we ask or imagine… Just hold that thought in your heart and reread those words. Immeasurably more than we can ever ask or even imagine. Thank you, Lord! I would never … [Read more...]
Friendship – Embrace the Present Moment
Time stood still for me twice this past week - brief moments of tranquility, gratitude and rare awareness of how precious life can be. I held these treasured memories, took a photo with my heart and tucked the vision away to keep forever. I breathed in friendship this week. I ate my birthday dinner with a friend from sixth grade. We have known each other for more than 50 years – a journey we traveled together transcending life stages and unexpected detours. You can’t put a price on this relationship - so precious. She is a lifelong friend transformed into a sister for me. I looked at her across the table and smiled. I held that moment and said thank you, Lord. I am blessed. On Sunday, ten of us gathered together to share our photos, laughter and recollections of our pilgrimage to the Holy Lands together. Not only do our travels connect us but also our shared beliefs. God’s presence in our relationships adds depth, flavors our conversations and cements our link with one another … [Read more...]
Trusting God During Transitions
Transitions. Changes. Crossroads. All times that can be challenging and full of emotions – joy, sadness, fear and confusion. “I guess all endings hurt a little even when you need them” – words of wisdom I heard last week from one of my daughters as she changes jobs. Good insight. We all go through changes and life shifts often facing them with faith and fear and probably some self-doubt. We chose a direction, then wonder if we made the best decision. We step out… no, we often leap into the unknown, not 100% sure where we will land. Williams Bridges wrote a classic book on this concept called Transitions. He writes there are three stages to every change: Ending – every transition begin with the ending. Of course there is sadness, loss, letting go. Allow yourself time to grieve. The Neutral Zone – that confusing muddle of the middle, in-between time where we feel disconnected and not belonging anyplace. We often feel lost at this stage. The New Beginning – where we … [Read more...]
Growing Older – Maybe
“Don’t regret growing older; it’s a privilege denied to many” is my mantra this week. I am trying focus on this blessing but it is hard. You see Wednesday is my birthday – a significant year. A “get the red, white blue card in the mail from the government type of birthday.” A year beyond “will you still love me, will you still need when I’m ____?” song being played kind of celebration. See I can’t even write out the numbers. I don’t feel that old. There is a place inside of me that totally denies my age. I think some cruel trick has been performed – a wizardly magic that catapulted me into the future and into a distant age. I fully believe that my mother made a mistake on my birth certificate, writing down a 5 instead of a 6 or 7 or even 8. My kids tell me that would make me younger than them. What’s wrong with that? My internal clock accurately says I’m in my 30’s, okay perhaps 40’s. I used to say the decade of my 50’s was one of the best ones as I felt at that age I … [Read more...]
Serving A Life Sentence Or Choosing Words to Live By
Do you have a life verse? A Bible verse or quote that resonates in your heart? Words that hold special meaning for you and perhaps guide you in times of decision and difficulty? I have found discovering special key words ground me and offer me light on my path. If I am not quite sure what to do, I reread certain phrases. I would hope once I am gone somehow people who knew me and loved me, would remember me in these ways. Here are words that impact my life: We must keep our eyes on Jesus, who leads us and makes our faith complete Hebrews 12: 2 My favorite Bible verse. I find that when I focus on God, things become clearer. When I allow my eyes to be distracted by sin, the world and my ego, I become lost. I need to remind myself of these life-giving words daily. For 2015, this verse is strong in my daily prayers: One thing I ask from the Lord, This only do I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord All the days of my life. To gaze on the beauty of the Lord And … [Read more...]
The Gift of Hearing
We live in an age besieged with communication devices - smart phones, Ipads, pagers and emails that chirp continuously. Facetime, Skype and voice mail. Twitter, Facebook and I-messages. Some people even still talk in person. LOL It seemed rather incongruous that in a society of supersophisticated communication, we often suffer from a shortage of listeners. Erma Bombeck I listened in church on Sunday. I sit up front since I help with the opening worship and the children’s sermon, so the entire congregation is behind me. I can’t see them when I am in the pew as my back faces them, but I can hear them. And I listened Sunday. I closed my eyes and felt the beat of the music. I heard the preschoolers’ innocent voices recite the Lord’s Prayer. I caught the swish of the hymnal pages being turned behind me. My ears picked up the voices of fellowship, worship and prayer. I listened this Sunday. I thanked God for the amazing gift of hearing. Sometimes, maybe even too … [Read more...]