Spring Time!

I love the Spring after winter. The Lord is so thoughtful and purposeful in creating the seasons of life in the timeline, He did. I dont think I would apprciate the life of spring as much if it didnt follow the death of winter. The flowers' blooms and smells. The skys' hues and shapes. The earth's colors and growth. My own heart's awakenness to "New Life". I was studying this morning over coffee and came across this verse. "Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, and come along. For BE-hold(stay upon; mediate in; grab hard to) the winter is past( the same word for passing through the red sea and over the jordan river; denoting movement and transportation from one to another; disappearance of what is behind and visible direction to what is ahead) and the rain is over and gone. The flowers have already appeared(shown themselves and caused themselves to be seen doing their purpose) in the land; The time has arrived for pruning (singing) the vines.." How precious are those Words. The Bible is so specific and directed in how it teaches and exhorts us. My mind is reminded of Zeph 3:17 as well, "The Lord your God is in your midst; A victorious warrior. He will exult (sing, over joyed with, same word is used to described the excitement and passion of a Groom for his bride) over you with joy, He will be quiet in (renew you) in His love, He will rejoice OVER you with SHOUTS (not whispers) of joy." That warms my heart as this sun does my face. Wow.... I notice that He is in my midst admist spring time. One of His names is the DaySpring of Life... that is so what this season is for me. He is springing up new days for me. He is my Day-spring! I love the spring! Let us forget what has been wintered behind and let us press on into the aroma of new life and spring up as new creations, blooming in their purpose as do the visible flowers.

Two's Company

Sometimes the sweetest moments that spark a smile are the smallest surprises that are otherwise overlooked or excused. I was home this weekend with my family. I had gone upstairs to be domestic...you know, laundry folding, vaccuming, and cleaning the bathroom... the typical critera. I was perched neatly on my knees in front of the dryer surrounded by warm clothes in piles, when my daddy walks up the stairs. I love hearing the movement of people around me. I know I am not alone. We began chatting briefly as we swiftly passed by the "woman's room" where I was folding. Then, as if there was a 6th sense to linger, he stopped and stooped down to me. Without a word, daddy began to fold with me. Unasked, unintentionally uninvited, and unmerited...he just wanted to be with me.The key phrase being "with me".



Things, whether extraordinary or completely average and expected in a given day, take on a surprising and fulfilling element when accomplished "with" another. I then began to teach my dad, who has been my teacher in all life's complexities, the simplicities of properly (according to Martha) folding a T-shirt. He was astonished and adorably amused at the technique and the speed that I was doing his shirts. He wanted to learn. We both were laughing, smiling, and folding those shirts in a matter of seconds. A job that I could do alone and was doing so... just took on a new diminsion. That little unexpected moment in the hallway gave me a smile that went deeper than my face. It was great to teach my teacher something simple yet valuable. It was even more great to see the Teacher in that "two's company" moment. The little normal task became marked with joy that seemed too lofty for such an experience... yet it perfectly folded right into it.

My dad and I proceeded to actually re-organize his entire armoire that night with the new technique that he had never known. It was hilarious! We raced at folding and chuckled at each other. It was a sweet father- daughter bonding moment that milestoned a truth for me. "Two IS better than one" as the Bible states so eloquently. Marriage would not be if it were not but for 2. A child would not be if it were not but for 2. Life is done better and with more fulfillment in EVERY task when it is done by Two. Look for opportunities to be Dependent with, not nessecarily on, someone. Folding laundry and organizing took on a whole new meaning when it was done with my Daddy! Oh that we would not be so pridefully "seperate" and "sufficient" and in turn miss daily surprises that are packaged along with someone. "Enlighten the eyes of my heart, Lord, that I might see You..." (Eph. 1)

Blessed New Year!

Truly, every good and perfect gift comes from the Father of Lights, with whom there is no variation or unreliability. The Lord blessed my family with the awesome opportunity to ski in the New Year in Crested Butte, Colorado. This was an extra special surprising gift, as Crested Butte was the original place my brother and I learned to ski. We had a blast! The weather was crisp and perfect, except for the blizzard on Tuesday. The snow was at least 4 packed feet at the base of the mountain with flurries and flakes during the day. We skied all day and did not have to ski the same run twice. It was exhilarating!

As I skied up and down and tranversed side ways, my mind recalled a spiritual truth. "Wash me, Lord, and I will be whiter than snow." (Ps.51: 7) "Come now, let us reason together, says our Lord, though your sins be like scarlet, they will be (and are) as white as snow." (Is 1:18) I love how simply the Lord talks about such profound topics as salvation and sanctification. He makes the beautiful pictural analogy between our new natures in Christ and the whitest element, snow. As I floated on top of the snow, it glimmered in the sunlight, almost blinding my eyes. It was so white and bright, when it was relflecting the sun. You see, we are most bright and "glorfied" when we are reflecting the purity and glory of the Son! It is amazing, that our Infinite God uses finite things in order to speak to our hearts. My blood demanding scarlet sins were made whiter than snow even, when I first believed in and received Jesus Christ. He is continuing to make us purer and brighter through the "express image of His person"... "for with an unveiled face, as beholding in a mirror, we are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory." (I Cor.3:18) " And "when Christ, who is our life, is revealed, we also will be revealed with Him in glory." (Col. 3:3)



When my profound Father teaches me so simply of His ways as He promises to do in Ps.25, I stand awed. I can never look at or ski in snow the same way again... for just as it is the definition of pure white so am I viewed as whiter still, through the eyes of snow's Creator! Oh how I love Him and His ways with me... May He laden our hearts with lessons like this all year long and sharpen our eyes to find His supernatural in the natural!

The Eve of Surprise

Isnt the element of surprise and wonder amazing.. almost magical. Or shall we say supernatural! It is really the eve of the surprise that is so wonderful... the anticipation, the dreaming, the thoughts that play... God is the Father of this continuing gift of surprise. Life is full of it, love seems to be marked by it, and Christ invented it! Christmas Eve night is the topper of all! It is so glorious and serene feeling. Sipping cider in wine glasses by out fire and letting mom and dad open all their gifts follows our 5 Star steak dinner. Cappy, our precious pup, helps in the unwrapping as he eagerly awaits the next paper to rip or box to grab. There is such simplicity and sweetness to this season. Yet all the tree, tea cups brimming, and tree trappings would not exist had it not been for my sin and my Savior. There is no Birthday party nor Going away party that beats that of Jesus Christ. We celebrate His birth, but we also remember His last supper with His disciples, illuminating the reasons behind the baby in a manager. He came to die that I might live. Oh the wonder of Christmas... the wonder of Him.

A supernatural wonderous joy flows from genuine hearts, and my family is no exception. I am so blessed with the family I call "mine". They are the greatest Christmas gift and yes, surprise. They continue to surprise me through the years, because the older I get the wiser I view them and love them for who they are, not for what they can do for me. The childness that Christmas evokes is healthy and beautiful. I love the traditions and memories that makes all my Christmas stories awe filled! The waffle smells tomorrow morning along side the crackling fire. The perfect set table with coffee mugs and matching plates. The Steve Greene Christmas album ringing loud on the surround sound as our alarm clock tomorrow morning. My brother and I will creep, fully awake, down the stairs just like we did when we were of crawling age, and be greeted with lights, music, and The Gifts! The couch is mine every year gift wrapped itself in presents, and Seth gets the chairs! It is marvelous. The element of surprise as to what is under the shiny and shimmery papers! The element that is in this eve as we await the morning. I love mornings, but Christmas tops them all. As all the wrapping paper paints the floor, gasps fill the room, and hugs mark and unopened gift.... my stunned heart cries every year!

My heart cries "HOLY"... "what am I that You would even let me share the spotlight, by giftings, in the season when this is ALL about You"! My heart cries grattitude and overwhelming humility. How could You love me to provide now but even more so provide over 2000 years ago? Muslims know no exaltation and wonderment. Buddahist speak none of joyful surprises found inside or paralyzing grattitude found outside such a Loving Active Savior. Christianity defines Christmas...declares Christ's reality....describes Life's meaning...depicts love and otherness....and demands attention. And it is the very attention of Christmas that is forcefully exiting people's minds. In certain parts, no carols, no "christmas" break, definitely no "merry christmas", no anything with CHRISTmas...Now, our Christmas is under scrutinzing eyes and unbelieving hearts. However, they will never be able to steal our memories, sabatoge our traditions, or silence The Truth of Christmas! Merry Christmas to all on this Eve..... Let His surprises come great and small! For Truly the greatest Surprise of all came in the Smallest package on an eve in Bethlehem...will we open (up to) Him this year?!

Divine Simplicity

"The mundane little happenings in life mark it with Grace and Glory", has been recorded in my head but found more recently true of my heart! I find Him in the smallest or common overlook...and it fulfills voids that I did not know were present. Practicing His presence admist what others find expected, common, normal, or ordinary...is exactly the secret to never knowing a dull moment.

So..sit back, simmer down, and stew over the Simple: the smell of coffee brewing, a cup of that coffee by a fire, a world of color and changing temperatures, fabrics that all feel different, the ability to design a meal and the gift to eat it, old leather chairs that tell a story, lines in a freshly mowed lawn, chips and dip, vaccuming, slippers,home libraries, candel light in daytime, cheaper gas across the street, King sized comforter on a twin bed,rough skin turned soft with a miracle called chapstick, hardwood floors that echo footsteps of company, the meaning of having a true friend, clocks-they anticipate future fun, snooze button-it prolongs wearied waking, mom's voice, daddy's hug, answered prayer-even giving us our daily bread every day...He really does it, anything puppies-their feet, breath, run, scarfs, big ceral spoons and deep bowls, dishes in general, the perfectly sharpened pencil that never breaks, the first day of life and the last, people watching, the sound of wheels hitting a runway, fireworks, the way the muscles move on top of your hand, hot showers with a cold rinse, biscuits, an old mattress, good feta cheese, cold crisp apple, the first spoonful of peanut butter from a new jar, tummy laughter, chipmunks, handwritten letters, a good massage, blinking, sleeping in a cold house with a heating pad, oversized sweatshirts, the flip flop noise, the sound of typing, seat warmers,the ability to record the random, a new day, the reality that Life is more than the seen...the Extraordinare that we cannot see makes this life's "seeables" glorious....add more to this list as you take note of all that is around you...it is endless, priceless, timeless...it is all simplicity originating from divinity! Fix your hope on "God, who richly supplies us with ALL things to enjoy!" I Tim.6:17

Remembering the Forgotten

It is astounding at how many prayers I forget I spoke and how many more I forget He has remembered! Truly, every time we pray He not only hears, but records. What an amazing Ear we have in Him. He listens, remembers, records, sifts, and answers our prayers with His precise faithfulness and technique. I was sitting on a plane overlooking the sunset, just dreaming to Him. He brought to memory prayers I had once only pondered and presented to Him. It encited me to remember those prayers and raise up praise for His answers. At that moment, the verse, "He inhabits the praise of His people" took on knew meaning. As I remembered in my mind what He was reminding in my heart, I began to praise Him! With the rememberance of those past prayers, I could see Him presently alive in my life to utterly praise Him for His answers. He instigated my memory and inhabited my praise! Jog my memory, Lord, of what has been a running record to You all these years.

Whispered Words

I am learning much of the voice of God. It is not the tonality of Him as it is the tenacity of Him. He speaks to me through anything, anyone all the time. He wrote the first written word and created the first correspondence. Would He not always be speaking then? It is the opened ear, the ready heart, and the enlightened eye that can find Him and His sweet voice. His voice patiently whispers to me some days and intensely directs on others. However, He speaks. He talks to my heart not to my head. He speaks to my spirit not intelligence. Though He uses the mind, the rational, and the emotions to show me His will and way, it is truly His Word that whispers. He enlivens it daily. He defines it nightly. God is a perfect communicator. I love when He not only speaks direction, but listens to my heart's words, sometimes groans. The most powerful Lover, the most precise Communicator, and the perfect Lover...this is the Man that talks to me. Why should He even communicate with me at all? Dare I not communicate back? The most simple, yet overlooked way of communicating, is listening. Though many call my name and a myrid of voices I hear...it is Him I listen to and locate in my friends. He affirms His love for me through the voice of someone dear and close. One of his many voices in my life can be defined as the trusted faces and friends that I call "mine". Thank you friends for speaking your heart to my heart. Even more than that, for speaking His heart every time. As His Words, through their many voices, continue to speak... may I remain hearing. "Speak Lord, for your servant is listening". Why should He even communicate with me at all? Dare I not communicate back? The most simple, yet overlooked way of communicating, is listening.