The Ginger Bread Man

I woke up this morning to an army of little men overseeing my coffee. The army of gingerbread men, were the results of the cooks in the house. Each one was happy and ready. They didn’t make them all the same. The first few have the same trimmings, but the artist took over and one is even wearing a bikini!

It just was too boring to make them all the same. They are all smiling (you would have to eat the head first of a grumpy gingerbread man). It was all so pretty in the dawning moments of our kitchen before the activity of another day took over. I found my camera and took several pictures.

I was reminded of the garden of Eden, before sin entered. Adam, being made of the dust of the earth, perhaps was shaded like a gingerbread man. His name does mean earthy. God has made quite a few people since, and none of them are exactly the same, unfortunately they don’t all smile. They do all have the same need, the earth has exacted a toll.

The most staggering of thoughts is that God allowed his son to enter this world in one of these dust made vehicles called a human body. The cook became the batter and entered the oven. I don’t know exactly what color his skin was, but we do know what color his blood was. He died in our place.

A small meal is the church’s reminder of this. A token of bread speaks of his willing body given, a small glass of wine the purity of his blood shed. In eating we ponder again our God’s role in granting us forgiveness.

The Little One that Got Away

Sometimes nobody wanting you is a good thing. The weather was cold and I was ready to finish up my deer hunting for the year. I decided that I would take a doe or larger buck. The only deer that I would pass on would be a spike buck. My reasoning was leave him for another year when he could potentially be a trophy. If all I wanted was meat a doe would be fine.

You guessed it, in came a nice spike buck. I determined to watch, and he just stood there for several minutes considering go out into the larger meadow to the south. It was a good time even if my toes were frozen.

Grow little guy grow! See you next year or the year after.

A Day of Thanks

Animals have a lot to do with holidays. Bunnies & Easter; Reindeer & Christmas; and how about Turkeys &Thanksgiving, they are so synonymous that some even call it “turkey day”. I don’t like the trend. It tends to make less of the real purpose or meaning behind the day.

Perhaps it is my religious background, but Christmas and Easter are fun times, but even more holy times. The animals can be a distraction if we are not careful. Thanksgiving as an example, should be about something far more important than getting stuffed! It should be about gratefulness more than gluttony. I love a good football game as much as the next guy, but somewhere on Thursday each person needs to find the time to thank God for his provision in the past year.

Now it is easy to be in a thankful mood when everything appears to be going well, but sometimes the economy makes us a bit gloomy in the thankful category. So consider this: Do you have any friends? Thank God for them. Do you have family? Thank God for them. Do you have the hope of heaven? Thank God for it (If you don’t, find a good church this Christmas!).

Thanks need to be directed toward the one who provided. Maybe the reason Thanksgiving has fallen off is related to our attitude toward God as a nation. Being a thankful person starts with a deeper knowledge of God. The height of my gratitude is often a measurement of the depth of my relationship with God. When I look up to God more, I am able to see better around me as well.

Great Day In the Woods

Taylor is turkey hunting for the first time this year. I have enjoyed being out in the woods with him, but so far no tags filled. The gun did go off one time, but with nothing in the way dropped. The birds flew off into the timber. Yesterday was our second together and a great day not for the prey we were seeking but for the joy of what God delivered.

A bird had clucked to our north shortly after we scared up a couple of deer below us in a deep draw. We sat up on a tree and within a few minutes Taylor whispered, “Look at this deer to my right.”

There stood a nice buck right in the fence row. “He will never come through the fence.” I predicted. Wrongly, I might add as the buck moved right to our north within 15 yards.

Later, Taylor agreed with me: highlight of the day!

Buck at 15 Yards (cellphones take terrible pictures)

Opposites That Don’t Attract

Black or White; Hot or Cold; Right or Left; Liar or Lover. We normally don’t think of the last pair as opposites, yet they are considered such in the scriptures (1 John 2:4-5). Their opposite nature is not readily clear until you consider how much lying does to destroy those that are around you.

Another consideration is the Devil is given the name Father of Lies, while we are told God is love.

The loving person is always truthful. Some think it is better not to tell a person the bad news, but even though it hurts the most loving of actions is to tell someone the truth. God always deals with us in the truth. Some don’t like that God is this way. They would rather live in a world where they get to do what they want, than deal with a God who clearly shows them their faults and failings.

If honest I must admit I can be one of those people. I can avoid God because I don’t want to face my own failure. God loves me too much to allow me to hide. One of the great scenes of the Bible is God seeking out Adam in the Garden of Eden. Adam, hiding in the bushes, is covered up with a garment of leaves. God lovingly confronts, as Adam evades.

Before I can love you I need to tell the truth not just to you, but to myself. If by my actions, I lie to myself, my actions toward you, are not loving. Saying, “I can do whatever I want” is not only a lie to myself, it is not loving toward you.

2009 Miles In 2009

A Long Way from Home

I haven’t purchased my turkey hunting tags for this fall yet, because I was wanting to reach the 2,000 milestone on my bike first. So now that I have made it (All the way to 2009 to be exact) it is time to buy the tags and head into the woods.

PS. I road past 2 tom turkeys only 3 miles before the new mark. Guess they figured they were safe for at least another 10 minutes.

Measuring the Harvest

I went for a ride in a combine once under different conditions. The ride reminded me of my wonderful childhood on the farm, but that was not what was different. What was especially interesting about this particular time was that the corn being picked was part of a series of test plots. Six rows at a time were picked, measured, and then the cycle began over again. Each particular hybrid of corn had to stand up to the test so that the farmer could choose his best options for planting next year.

What struck me was the question: Could my life stand up to such direct measurement? No excuses, does my life measure up? We so often forget to hold ourselves accountable to any set of goals whatsoever. Life is allowed to just slip by without serious thought as to its direction or purpose. Some day, the Bible clearly teaches, everyone will give an account to God of their life.

This is the reason we are so desperately in need of redemption. Anyone who would seriously measure his life by the standards set by Christ during his life on earth would realize how far short they have fallen. None has been as kind, gracious, giving, holy, or loving as they could. Yet, God offers us hope through His Son’s payment for us on Calvary. This is the essence of salvation: Christ has met the need of your life before God, and you trust in His payment for your standing before God. Christ was the perfect “hybrid” of sorts, all of God to know what was required, and all of man to do it on your behalf. Have you turned to your only option?

  The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.  (E.S.V.) Ec 12:13-14.

Guest Writer

Most of this stuff is written directly by me. Today, I am allowing my daughter to share her story with you. Many of you have prayed for her, but even if you have not prayed for her I am sure her story will be a blessing to you.

As a child I had the privilege of growing up in Christian household. I knew from a very young age about Jesus and what he had done for me. It wasn’t until I was about five that I realized that I wouldn’t get to heaven just because my parents believed or because I was a good little girl. It was at that time that I put my trust in the Lord Jesus Christ to take away my sins.

From then on I had a pretty good life. Our family was problem free. I hadn’t had anyone close to me die.  We weren’t rich, but we had enough. I was happy with my life. I naively believed that life was always going to be easy because I obeyed God. I thought that God could only bless you through good times and not through trying situations.

When I was fifteen I got very sick. I was hospitalized and passed from doctor to doctor. They finally settled on a diagnosis. They told me I had JRA (Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis). This was not a comfort because this disorder doesn’t have a known cure.

Through the first two years of my illness I went through a series of emotions. The embarrassment of the illness hurt my pride. I wasn’t able to do easy things like brushing my teeth or getting up from a chair. It made me rely on others. I didn’t like not being in control. I didn’t like the idea of people not seeing me at church. I still thought that if I didn’t go to church and do my “services” I wasn’t being a good Christian. I became angry at God. “How could he do this to me? Hadn’t I always done what you asked me to do? Hadn’t I been acting like a good Christian?”

This is when I started to reason with God. “God, if you make me better I will do whatever you want me to do. Think of all the things I could do for you and your work if I was healthy.” This went on for months. I felt so alone and deserted. I lost faith in “who” God is. He didn’t care about me. I was just going to die, or worse, live my life half dead.

I didn’t want to talk to anyone about how I was struggling. I didn’t think Christians had problems or felt dissatisfied. So I did the only thing I could think of to do. I pretended I believed in God and that he was present in my life. For a year I when to church and smiled at everyone and said I was fine. Life was too hard to talk about, and I would rather live pretending everything was okay than face the fact that my life was falling apart at the seams.

Two years ago God had my parents meet a lady who suggested I be tested for Lyme disease again. My parents had a great peace over this, so I decide I would go along with them and be tested. The test came back that I had Lyme. I went to my first appointment with my new doctor. Four things happened that day that had never happened to me before in all the time that I had been sick. My doctor, actually listen to what I had to say and didn’t make me feel like I was making it up. He had answers to my questions. At the end of our appointment he asked us how we were doing spiritually and then he prayed with us. It was at that moment that I had peace for the first time in two years. I didn’t know if I was going to get better, but I could trust God. I had forgotten how that felt.

That has been two years ago now. I am feeling better than I have in years and I am getting to the end of my treatment. It has been a long and hard road, but I am thankful that God put me through this. He has taught me many lessons through this all that I might not have learned otherwise. I learned about myself and my own flaws. Before, I had judged myself on human standards. I took pride in the fact that I wasn’t as bad other people. All through the time I was ill I was put through hard things. A person’s true character comes out when they are put in difficult situations. The Lord broke my pride and showed me how ugly I really was. I realized I wasn’t as great as I thought. The Lord helped me not to be so judgmental of others, but to love them. Through suffering God gave me a gift of a deeper relationship with my family. I came to appreciate them more than I could ever imagine.  I came to realized that I was blessed where it truly counted. I might not have my health or fancy things, but I had a family that loved me and would take care of me even though I didn’t always treat them right. I found un-measureable joy in knowing him more. I developed a greater desire to not be satisfied with my present relationship with God, but to always want to be closer to him.

I think the most important thing I learned though, was how to trust God. I learned that even when life seemed out of control and I had no say in what would happen, God was in control and he has a plan far greater than anything I could come up with. The path he put me on isn’t going to be the same as anyone else, because his purpose for me is unique.  I just have to rest in his promises. That he loves me. That he will never leave me or forsake me. In every season and time in my life, His hand is present. He is using my life on this earth to shape me for eternity.

Preparing for Company

My Room was a mess, but after a little work it was ready for dinner

Having people over for dinner is a great idea . . . IF your house is clean. If your house is not clean the day leading up to the company can be a bit of a challenge depending on how much needs to be done.

Now if you are really looking forward to your company, like Grandma at Christmas, it is more than worth it. The joy of knowing who is coming makes up for the drudgery of cleaning and all the rest.

This is the motivation for living holy. If you are being holy so that you can say you are holy, the “whole holy thing is empty.” But if instead you are seeking to be holy because it is out of expectation that someone is coming (God!) then it becomes much more.

This is the picture of the bridegroom parables of Jesus. He’s coming for his bride and she is waiting preparing, waiting hoping, waiting holy.  This kind of holy I need to be reminded of daily, or perhaps even hourly.

Straightening up the room for company is nothing in comparison to straightening up a soul for God’s coming. Often when company is coming we have a pretty good idea of when they are arriving and so we can strategize on the best plan of preparation. Yet, the Lord will come in the hour we least expect it.

How then am I ever to be prepared for His coming? Here is some advice from scripture:  “Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing” (2 Timothy 4:8).

Do you see the advice? Those that love God live in constant expectation of His arriving. In simple terms don’t get ready, be ready! This means short accounts, quick repentance, and steady behavior. If you are not presently ready for Him, say a prayer, clear your head, and clean your heart.

When “What’s Coming” Interrupts “What Is”

I have a neighbor that is really excited about preparing for the future. So excited I think he is going to get himself killed. As I drove by his house he ran across the street and I nearly hit him. He is a squirrel. Each time I see him he has a walnut in his mouth, and with no regard for his present life he dashes in front of moving vehicles with his treasure.

Preparing for the future is a clear directive of the scriptures, but it is not to be done with total disregard for the present. “Get out of my way, I am going to church,” can sound really religious, but is it how God wants us to live?

God’s direction for your life does not cost others their life. Some seem to take this personal relationship with God to mean that my fellow man doesn’t matter. It’s all about me discovering what God wants. The truth is Jesus said COMMAND #1: love God, COMMAND #2: love your neighbor. The two are related.

When I disregard those around me thinking only about my future with God I lose something of what God has for me in the present. I need to prepare for the future, but not with an unconscious attitude toward the present. Too many who call themselves Christians don’t live presently the Christ life of love thy neighbor. I can hear the complaints already, “BUT my neighbor is . . .” As they nailed Him to a cross Jesus said, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”

It’s amazing how much good it does me when I do good to my neighbor.