Horton hears who? Horton Hears a Who! This fun Dr. Seuss story teaches children and reminds adults the important lesson of loving your neighbor. I used this book as part of the children's sermon last Sunday when the gospel lessons told the well known parable about the Good Samaritan that starts with the question, "Who is my neighbor?" Does Horton talk about neighbors? Not exactly. The weather is hot so Horton, the elephant, jumps into the pool to splash the heat away. He is having lots of fun when he hears a small noise. Looking around he sees nothing. But once again he hears a faint cry for help. "I'll help you," said Horton, 'but who are you? Where?' He looked and he looked. He could see nothing there but a small speck of dust blowing part through the air." Horton ends up discovering a whole group of people barely visible to the eye who need help. And Horton does help. In fact he goes the extra mile for these people he didn't even know and almost missed … [Read more...]
12 Native American Proverbs
Many of the gift shops we visited on our trip to southern Utah held books and cards featuring Native American proverbs. I thought their wisdom would be fun to share with you. "Even your silence holds a sort of prayer." Apache "The Great Spirit gave us each a song." Ute "Wisdom comes only when you stop looking for it and start living the life the Creator intended for you." Hopi "Thoughts are like arrows; once released, they strike their mark. Guard them well or one day you may be your own victim." Navajo "To gossip is like playing checkers with an evil spirit; you win occasionally but are more often trapped at your own game." Hopi "First you are to think always of God. Second you are to use all your powers to care for your people and especially the poor." Sioux "It makes no difference as to the name of the God since love is the real God of … [Read more...]
Recognizing the Rewards of Routine
Do you thrive or just survive in the daily routines of life? We have been camping the past two weeks. After long days of car travel from Ohio to Utah, we ventured around the "Golden Circle" of Moab, Arches and Canyonland National Parks, Mesa Verde, Durango and the four corners, then through northern Arizona to Bryce and Zion National Parks. What a treasure our national parks are! I am amazed at the history of the world found in geology. We discovered the roots of ancient Native Americans and listened to their stories about creation, the stars above, and how we are all connected through the years and through nature. Yes vacation can be moments of learning, adventure and change of scenery. I love planning trips and the anticipation of new sights. My perspective widens and my imagination soars. Trips evolve into more than just sightseeing; they become pilgrimages where we find roots and inspiration. Each day was different. Yet nothing on vacation feels as good to … [Read more...]
GUIDANCE – God and I Dance
Guidance. God and I dance. Do you see in the word Guidance - the words God and I dance? A friend took this photo of a gravestone a few weeks ago. Inscribed was the perhaps familiar to you poem about the word “guidance" and "God and I dance." When I meditated on the word Guidance, I kept seeing " dance" at the end of the word. I remember reading that doing God's will is a lot like dancing. When two people try to lead, nothing feels right. The movement doesn't flow with the music, and everything is quite uncomfortable and jerky. When one person realizes that, and lets the other lead, both bodies begin to flow with the music. One gives gentle cues, perhaps with a nudge to the back or by pressing lightly in one direction or another. It's as if two become one body, moving … [Read more...]
I’d Rather Have Jesus
I know I just posted about music on Tuesday so this must be music week. When I attended the Write to Publish Conference a few weeks ago (love Christian writing conferences for the atmosphere and the worship) we sang the classic “I’d Rather have Jesus.” I hadn’t sung that song for ages. I’d Rather have Jesus started out as a poem written by Rhea Miller in 1922. Ten years later a 23-year-old musician named George Beverly Shea sat at his mother’s piano. He noticed the poem lying by the piano and the words touched his heart. Shea immediately write music to accompany the words. It is said the first time he sang it, his mother came out from the kitchen with tears in her eyes. She encouraged him to sing the new song in church the following Sunday. A few years later, George joined together with another young man - Evangelist Billy Graham and this became one of his favorite songs. Shea just died this past April living to the age of 104. He sang into his 90s and received many, … [Read more...]
Love Changes Everything
Ever have a song stick to your soul? Your mind keeps repeating the words. The tune plants it roots in the ears of your heart. God nudges me to listen and listen deeply. He is reminding me of His truth. Love Changes Everything haunts me this week. Haunts in a good way. Deep down I want to believe that love changes everything. Love creates meaning. Love heals hurts. Love mends relationships. You are never the same after His love. Love transforms. If I don’t know the answer to a situation - I choose love. If I have two options, I ask which one shows more love? If I want to be more like Jesus, I choose love. I love the music and lyrics to the song by Andrew Lloyd Webber, from the musical “Aspects of Love.” I pray, “Yes love, love changes everything. Lord, now I tremble at your name. Nothing in the world will ever be the same. Love will never, never let us be the same.” Take a moment to listen, enjoy and pray: Love, love changes … [Read more...]
Wise Lessons from a Four Year Old
I witnessed a wise lesson from a four-year-old last Sunday. Kyla, lower right corner, with friends making crafts My granddaughter, Kyla, celebrated her fourth birthday with a huge party. Both adults and kids attended. All the elements of a grand festivity took place: welcoming guests, playtime, craft, opening gifts, blowing out the candles while singing the traditional birthday song and lots of decorated cake. Everyday leading up to the party, if you would ask Kyla what she wanted, she only had one answer: a pink bike. I heard this multiple times. When I looked over the large pile of presents waiting for her, sure enough by the edge of the table was a large pink plastic wrapped gift. Kyla opened her presents, remembering most of the time to say thank you. About half way through the process, she turned to the large wrapped item, smiled and opened it. Pealing back the wrapping, a big garden set, complete with multiple tools appropriate for her age, awaited … [Read more...]
Good Choices vs. the Best Choices
How do we choose between the good choices vs the best choices? I read this quote the other day which got me thinking about this common dilemma. “The greatest enemy of the life of faith in God is not sin, but good choices which are not quite good enough. The good is always the enemy of the best.” Oswald Chambers, Utmost for His Highest I can’t remember the last year I wasn’t reading Utmost for his Highest as a devotional. I sometimes miss days but at least four times a week, this is one book of wisdom I read in my morning time with God. Most mornings it is like reading his words for the first time and quite often they are just what I need to hear for this moment in time. Good Choices vs. the Best Choices The quote above by Chambers resonated with me. I highlighted it and reread it several times. Too often I choose something because it is good, not necessarily the right thing for me to do. Or I do the urgent items on my to do list instead of … [Read more...]