Uplifted in a Broken Down World

They are old. They are stained. They are treasured. They are staples of all our Holyday family feasts. They are my Mother’s handwritten recipe cards.

One pre-Christmas night, nineteen years ago, my Mother concluded her most significant recipe card — her lifetime of special ingredients all mixed together to give rise to her very own entrance into Heaven.

My Mother was a gourmet cook. She put a special part of her heart into every dish she made. The flavor of no herb or spice could equal the seasoning of my Mother’s heart.

At times, Heaven and my Mother seem so very far away; but come Christmas in the family kitchen and my Mom feels right next to me, as her voice whispers in my ear, “Don’t forget ‘our’ dash of Heart”.

How much does your Bible weigh? Modern day, advanced technology and people pleasing churches have accomplished turning Bibles into feather weight, fit in your pocket references. Whittled down to near emaciation might be a pleasing look to the world, but God frowns on His Word being viewed as such. God’s Word must never weigh in as needing to go on a diet. Our Bibles should be heavyweights — stuffed full of nourishing calories that enable us to attain giant-size stature in knowing and living as Children of God.

Sad, but in many ways, Christians are giving up the meat and potatoes of their Bibles and, instead, munching on human-injected sugar-coated whip cream and marshmallow versions of God’s Word. Nourishing on the Bible is not a fast food, drive through experience. It is a made from scratch, God family banquet and meant to take a lifetime to partake of and digest.

Mankind seems constantly tantalized by Satan advertising there’s a new Bible menu, better equipped to feed our busy schedules, alternative lifestyles, and worldly needs. Newsflash — God has not, is not and will not be authentically found in this “knock-off” of His Word. God’s Word has not, is not and will not ever deviate from its original text. If our lives are to know God, follow God and reflect God, then we must read, study and personify the full weight and way of Scripture as written by God, not abbreviated or changed by Satan, sleeping churches or busy schedules’ shortcut routes.

Over the Centuries, Bibles have physically shrunk in size and weight. Thinner paper and smaller print have facilitated this. The “You Version” phone Bible App has reached over one billion installs. This is good, not bad, as it conveniently puts God’s Word into the hands of massive people across our world. However, our hands must hold onto every ounce of wisdom and guidance as written by God. No matter in what form our Bible is, we must be faithful to Scripture being authentically discerned and not personally interpreted. Scripture must resound what God says and not what we might want to hear.

We all need to ask ourselves how much our Bible weighs. If we’ve allowed it to become slimmed down and watered down, it’s time we put the weight of God’s muscle back into His Word.

As the world gets so into giving this time of year, it’s sad that most forget this season is really about receiving — receiving the gift of a Baby in a manger!!!

Christmas is the time of year commemorating (and reminding) that God comes down to earth and meets mankind’s needs. May we all feel God beside us, as HE IS on earth and holding us in HIS Hands.

Since our God is a God who chose to save us by arriving in our midst impoverished, lowly and outcast, our souls know that even today He shows up and is our present “present” when we are impoverished, lowly and outcast — be it by sickness, worldly rejection, or judged insignificant by earth’s false standards. No matter what battle we face, CHRIST has been sent by God the Father and born to carry us through all warfare.

“Be near me, Lord Jesus. I ask you to stay close by me forever, and love me I pray” (Away in a Manger)

Seven-year-old Zachariah decided his GaGa needed an extra set of hands this week. Our Tuesday morning began with an excursion to find donuts and hot chocolate. His little head decided our breakfast menu. His big heart expressed that he would direct me to where the best hot chocolate and donuts could be found. Once inside his chosen store, the real food for thought was served.

As mentioned last post, I’m currently hand handicapped!! As my fingers experience weakness and numb tingling, my brain tends to ignore what is and suffers, at times, the reality of my ignorance. Such was the case last Tuesday. Having ordered our hot chocolates, we stood waiting for them to be brewed. Without thinking, when the barista handed me mine, my mitts reached for it. Instantaneously, the cup slipped through my hand and made a gigantic splatter painting covering everything in sight. Hot chocolate was everywhere, except in the cup meant to contain it.

Apologetically, I turned my palms over revealing the bandages and explained I had just had surgery and forgot my hands were not capable of holding any weight. Both girls working the counter immediately grabbed a pile of towels, bolted around the worktop and, while consoling me, began the mop up. One motioned to the other that she had the mess under control and needed her counterpart to take over making me another hot chocolate. Suddenly, I realized I was not in a puddle of a mess but in the midst of Christian help and caring. These two angels refused any payment for the new hot chocolate or even praise for their clean-up deed. Their only concern and need were for me to know everything was ok, and their helping hands were there to do for me what my mitts could not do for themselves.

Having only a debit card and no cash in my pocket, I was shortchanged to even repay these girls for being my angels. We walked away and headed to the donuts. My wise beyond his years grandson kindly informed me that he was going to carry our donuts!!

Instead of ringing our bakery goods up at self-serve, we waited in line for a cashier. I needed cash back on my debit card purchase. On the way out of the store, I stopped at the scene of my recent disaster. I placed a thank you offering into each of the hands of the duo that showed me such kindness and concern. Zachariah stood by and observed. While walking out the door, my sidekick expressed how nice it was of me to give each of the girls a dollar. My reply was he missed the zero. He looked confused so I explained it was ten dollars, not ones. Shocked he blurted out, “wow, when I get a job, it’s going to be making hot chocolate!!!”. So began my lesson, not in math but in gratitude for what money cannot buy.

Zachariah and I discussed how in the world’s eye, those two young girls were not seen as beautiful, special human beings. They were plain and ordinary in society’s vision; but in God’s eyes, they were His very reflection. They helped from their hearts, and they cared about my feeling like I had failed. They shared God’s love and took it upon themselves to “do unto others as they would like others to do unto them”. As children of God, we are called to recognize special angels and share how much they are appreciated and how great a blessing they are. Out of the mouth of babes!! – Zachariah ended our discussion with the statement that even after their money was spent, he was sure they would remember the mess his GaGa made and never forget how special they were for helping me instead of putting me in time out!!!

Without any doubt, having a set of handicapped hands just might be a mitt full of blessing and a heart full of gratitude.

A week ago today, I paid the price for neglecting a common, carpal tunnel issue. By the time I arrived at the point of surgery, I was in need of “pronto do them both at once” and pray long-term damage is little. Thus, my big-time optimism has made me follow all post-op instructions and not use my hands for much of anything. However, this morning’s Thanksgiving walk and conversation with God needs to be shared!! So let me peck, one key at a time, and make this short but as God spoke to me.

Just finished walking, and my Thanksgiving thought from God is that while the world considers this a day to load up our plates with all the stuff maybe not so good for us, God’s message is that all the poison the devil puts on our plates during the year is not meant to feed us. We are to scrape it all into the garbage, and then with an empty clean plate (and slate) go to the Lord with grateful hearts and ask Him to nourish our souls!!! That’s why Christians start Thanksgiving with a clean, empty plate and pray with gratitude before they enjoy the gift of filling our beings with God’s bountiful blessings.

Enjoy your meal from God!!! Happy Thanksgiving!!!

If you know me, you understand that I see much uniquely different than others. I firmly believe God leaves a message in every, and all, that happens or exists. The challenge is not what happens but in discovering God message in all that occurs.

My latest discovery of interwoven wisdom from God rests in the pain of my bilateral carpal tunnel (condition where the median nerve is compressed as it passes through the wrist, causing pain, numbness, tingling and weakness in the hand and fingers). I’m not intending to analyze and teach all the particulars of a medical issue. My aim is to preach a God-centered carpal tunnel message.

Carpal tunnel affects the fingers on our hand. So, let’s discuss our fingers. We have five on each hand, a basic fact known to all. The four strong ones are labeled: thumb, pointer, middle and ring finger. These four are considered both useful and powerful. Our fifth finger is designated as little or pinky. It yields no real use, function, purpose or strength. Plain and simple, we boast four mighty digits and belittle one insignificant tag along.

The absolute, layman bewildering fact of carpal tunnel is that only the four strong fingers on a hand hurt, tingle, lose strength and become weak. The feeble pinky is not affected at all. While the significant four lose their value, the unvalued little finger steadfastly remains itself, unaffected by outside disease. Herein, I believe, God tucked His message. Those man hails as strong and powerful in purpose might be less perfect and powerful than man designates them as being; while those we dismiss as powerless and non-important, in reality, are above the fray and possess core value that evades many downfalls for which the powerful are prone to fall. Things (and people) are not always as they appear.

Whom do we automatically admire — those with titles and perceived strength or those who might wrongly be judged as having little value but in reality, humbly withstand the effects of worldly attack. Carpal tunnel has, hands down, brought home God’s message that “But He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12: 9-10 (NIV)

It’s hard, if not impossible, to recognize our current world in comparison to Fifty years ago, when I was a spring chicken. Everything, from conveniences to necessities to the family unit are totally different. Nothing is the same was my deduction, until I heard God’s firm “Um, I beg your pardon!”. Oops, I’d overlooked the most crucial fundamental of all — God as the indispensable, non-changing element of life. His Word, its message, meaning, commands, reprimands and rewards have, throughout the ages, never changed.

Undeniably, each generation, since Jesus walked the earth, lives differently EXCEPT for the SOUL aspect of Christianity. God is the only unifying strand whose recognition, presentation and value are one and the same from year to year and generation to generation. God is never labeled “outdated” nor “renovated”. God never expires and always inspires.

Modern day finds this old grammy sometimes bemoaning the pages of life. It’s as if the saga of society is a novel, the likes of which are completely foreign to my generation. However, there is one staple whose deeper message is proof God never changes, is eternal and defies the passing of time being able to make Him obsolete or alter His essence. Plain and simple, it’s the BIBLE. Whether the date was 100 BC or 2025 AD, families told, and still tell, the exact same Bible Stories. Be it Adam and Eve, Noah, Jonah, Moses, Joshua, David, Solomon, Peter, Paul, Christ, etc., etc., etc., all generations share a carbon copy script of all Bible written stories.

Herein, is rooted great testimony to our always present, eternal God. In our ever changing, flip-flop world, God is and remains one and the same no matter what generation is current. Over time generations weigh in differently on whether food and vitamins are healthy. However, the nourishment of the Body and Blood of Christ never has, not will, waiver from being the past’s, the present’s and the future’s food for life.

I smile cause as I’m closing this blog, my heart remembers a yesterday moment. My four-year-old granddaughter asked her mommy if they could play the Bible Story Game. How proud Rosemary was when she recited the same stories I long ago did with my Mother. Doesn’t matter your generation, God is the glue that cements us all together as family.

How often in our man-planned daily timelines do the days get closer to our scheduled endpoint, yet seem more and more behind from the desired goal? I’m pretty sure the chorus is a crescendo of “too many”!!! May I share this thought?

“Plan A” is always our (and the world’s) devised schedule and scheme. We consider “Plan A” the best. When even a thought of maybe needing a “Plan B” arises, we think fail and disaster. However, the true meaning and message of “Plan B” harbors in what definition we give the letter “B”.

For us Christians, “Plan B” should be “Plan ‘B’ELIEVE”. Going from “Plan A” to “Plan B” must be the transformation from the world as “Plan A’s” producer to God as “Plan B’s” Director. “Plan ‘B’ELIVE” proclaims we trust God and “B”elieve that whatever route HE charts for us to cross our finish line is, in HIS wisdom, how best to grant us our deepest blessings. Maybe it’s not “Plan A’s” smooth sailing that we initially calculated, but God’s greatest gift (the Crucifixion’s Redemption) came through enduring and defeating the storm — not circumventing it.

Thus, if and when, a “Plan B” must unfold, don’t overlook any sign God sends because our eyes remain glued to our missed, manmade schedule. When God has a greater “Plan ‘B’ELIEVE” gift for us, instead of sighing in defeat, we need to rely on HIS providence, calm our anxious hearts by trusting HIM and rev up our souls to see HIS will and way ultimately bless us far beyond our failed, worldly timeline.

To (and in) the world, these past few weeks I disappeared and would be labeled AWOL – “Away With Out Leave”. To me (and God) in recent time I appeared and truly have been AWOL – “Always With Our Lord”.

The question, whose answer needs sharing, remains why was I AWOL? Excuses would say I was knee deep in moving residence or heart deep in following a new venture. Reality proclaims I was soul deep, not budging an inch, in re-stabilizing my life journey of “Always With Our Lord”. My vanishing was not a disappearance but an exposure of WHO never loses sight of me and WHOM is revealed in all my eyes perceive and receive.

In my challenges, God is with me helping me keep focusing on HIS closeness and HIS illuminating victory, even when it seems lightyears away. In directional choices, God is the only roadmap capable of guidance through washed out roads, mountainous terrain, deep and dark valleys, bewildering forests, tides toppling castles on the sand and, also, serene, wide open spaces of peace.

This past month, I’ve travelled all of these paths, but God, not I, has piloted each mile. Every leg of the journey has revealed the destination is not somewhere out there that I need to reach, but rather, SOMEONE right here whose wisdom and love longs to teach. My being has not gone through the plight of being lost. It has been blessed with the delight of being re-founded. My pencil has been silent, so written on my life could be newfound understanding and appreciation for “Be Still and Know That I Am God”. Psalm 46:10 (NLT).

I have not been “Away With Out Leave”. I most definitely, and forever will be, “Always With Our Lord”. Amen and Halleluia!!!

The world might be falling apart, but Christ is not. Nor do we, His brothers and sisters, have to be coming apart at the seams. “Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7 (NLT)

“As you live in Christ Jesus”… The question is do we live in Christ Jesus, or do we live in our tumultuous world? In my younger years, pathetically, I would have answered this question not with a correct answer but with a wrong explanation. My simplification would have clarified that in trying to bring Christ to others, I am forced to wade in worldly chaos to get Christ to them. Today, I chuckle at this wrong, directional perception.

Bringing Christ to others plows through chaos and ends up amidst a destination saturated with worldly turmoil and confusion. However, if we bring others to Christ, we leave Satan’s pandemonium and carry ourselves and others to Christ’s throne — where Peace reigns. Man’s earth abounds in war. Christ’s neighborhood is sequestered in Peace. So I ask myself, and you, what direction am I, and you, going when we set out to share the Gospel with others???