One of My Security Blankets

God took a Scripture I used to be scared of and made it a favorite, Ephesians 2:10.

“For we are His workmanship” – We … and that includes me … are His (God’s ) work of art.  I understand that the Greek for workmanship is poema.   I am a beautiful poem penned by God.  I am His wonderful creation. But not only me, the word is “we”.  I am a member of a community, a family that has been fashioned by God, knit together individually and corporately into a beautiful tapestry.  There is a belongingness in this phrase that is such a gift.  This is my identity.

“created in Christ Jesus for good works” – My creation has reason.  I am sometimes tempted to ask if the good works I’m involved in are important enough.  And sometimes I have wished that I could be involved in the good works I see others doing.  NOT GOOD!  When God leads me to a good work, it is HIS work for me and it is VERY important.  It is exactly where He needs me to be.  When I take my eyes off God and look at the works of others, I’m learning that that is a major act of Un-trust.  Not good!  This is my purpose.

“which God prepared beforehand” – Jeremiah 1:5 says, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; …”  This is an amazing thought to me.  Although God was speaking these words about the prophet Jeremiah, I believe He was speaking them for me as well. God knew me before He formed me in my mother’s womb.  And with that knowledge before I was even born God consecrated me.  He had dibs on my life before I was introduced to my earthly family.  WOW!  This is my security.

“that we should walk in them” – We should walk – not run.  How often I am tempted to think it needs to be done now.  I need to invite them for dinner this week.  I need to call her today.  I am so tempted to run.  The urgency can be overwhelming and tiring and not necessary or good.  If indeed these are God’s good works that He prepared for me to do and if He is asking me to walk, I will trust and walk.  This is my pace.

“For I know the plans I have for you says the Lord, …” Jeremiah 29:11 

Go - Be - Do

School year - summer.
School year - summer.
School year - summer.

Growing up school started the Wednesday after Labor Day.
College commenced each September too.
Teaching third grade (my domain before "I do") began in September.
Campus ministry--our vocation, our joy, our love--ditto.
Then our sons arrived; the cycle repeated.

Ingrained--September is the new year, more so than January.

So many opportunities, so many choices, The Rubber-band Ball bounces enticingly.

Joshua is also on the cusp of new; his daunting task of following in Moses' footsteps is reality. The beginning of his venture is recorded in Joshua 1:1-9.

My kitchen calendar turned again; September is now. I too am on the cusp of new. Th
e ancient words God saved in Joshua 1 instruct once more.

Go, be, do. Three little words communicating BIG direction appear 14 times in 9 verses.

Go (verses 2, 7, and 9) "into the land that I am giving..." "Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you," (verse 3) God went before; God prepared; God planned; the new for Joshua is not new to God. I am reminded of Ephesians 2:10 ... " For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared before hand, that we should walk in them." (Italics mine)

God, please cause me to go to only those places where you have gone before and prepared for me. Amen.

Be (verses 6, 7, and 9) "strong and courageous" "strong and very courageous" "being careful to do"--a great segue. Joshua needed to be strong as he led the people in their inheritance of the land God promised; and he needed to do it according to all the law.

Father, in whatever you have for me this fall, may it help me, like Joshua, to be strong and courageous. Amen.

Do (verses 7, 8, and 9) Joshua 1:8 (memorized years ago) gives a framework for the doing. "This book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success."

Each time do is commanded, it is connected to be.

Dear Jesus, as I consider your plans for me this fall, help me to bathe those plans (do-ings) in your word. Amen.

God reiterates his instruction to Joshua in two short sentences reinforcing be, do, go. The same commission in a new order.

Be something--be strong. God then emphasizes it from the opposite.
Do not be something--frightened or dismayed. God promises his presence.
Go--the Lord is with you ... and has gone before.

An outline worthy of my ponderings this September.

"but his delight is in the law of the LORD,

and on his law he meditates day and night."

Psalm 1:2 

Jennifer's Story; My Story; God's Story

It was Saturday morning just 7 days before our Sabbath-Living Retreat. As I sat with my friends (those making up the retreat committee) in our living room, I shared Ephesians 2:10 …

 "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them."

I desired to affirm them. God created each with gifts and abilities that they were living out as together we brought this retreat to reality. The retreat that was God's idea. And our pace was walking as each did their part.

Then I skipped to Colossians 3:15, “And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.”

Dana

Amy S.

  

So many importants in those few words, let peace rule … one body … be thankful.

Committee and community both originate from the same Latin word, communis. Some definitions include a social unit that share common values and are assembled for a specific purpose. That’s who we were—one body, a small community who came together for a specific time with a specific purpose. Over the course of 8 months this committee became a community of friends.

What did that look like for me?

1. Ministry is prayer; ministry is partnership; ministry is stewardship.

2. Affirming my friends with their contributions.

3. Trusting them with their responsibilities.

                                                                          

Denise

  

Jennifer shared this story with me:

Jennifer

Several years ago she headed up a committee to work on a similar women’s event. As with our Sabbath-Living retreat there were lots of details that needed to be attended to. Jennifer cast the vision and the committee went to work. The day of the event, one of the committee members came up to her and said, “Jennifer, step back and watch God work.” As she let go and watched the event unfold more beautifully than she could imagine, tears formed in her eyes and excitement in her heart as she observed God’s blessing.

Karma

Jennifer’s story foreshadowed my story. I am so thankful for each

Lynn

of these dear friends; and I stand amazed at the goodness of God smiling on the retreat.

But there were others too, faithful ladies who prayed. Thank you so much to Janine, Susan, Mary, Mary, Joyce, Lynea, Jenny, Trisha, Jean, and Barb.

Deb and Kathleen, along with Dana shared their passions in afternoon workshops complimenting the theme of the retreat.

Nan, Lisa, Joyce, and Rachel all shared personal words of testimony about

Ruth

their learning Sabbath-living.

Sally

Amy K. and her friends who led each session with their worshipful music.

Pam and Shelia and others who generously donated gifts for the women attending.

And Sally Breedlove, our speaker who made the Word come alive to all of us. Her depth in the scriptures and her down-to-earth stories were the perfect introduction to our personal reflection times. 

Like Jennifer, I was stunned by how God orchestrated the entire weekend.

“that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.”                                                                                                                                           Romans 15:6

The Waldo Canyon Fire ~ Five Months Later

The calendar pages turn; the shock is history; decisions multiply; rebuilding starts; grieving continues.

The ground is soaked with rain. She struggles to walk on the dirt road. The mud clinging to her shoes gluing them to the ground at times, and other times turning them into skate boards tumbling her to the ground. Her hands now encased in mud as well. Will she ever arrive? She struggles on.

Another walks the same road. She too experiences the sucking, sloshing, muddy reality. Her progress is slow, very slow; she too falters and falls. She looks around for help. She sees hands—dry hands—at the side of the road under the protection of the tall pine trees. She reaches; they reach; they connect.

A third travels that muddy pathway. The oozing of the ground is a nuisance. It saddens her to think of the sunny days just a week ago and how all has changed in the short time in the reality of the storm—the reality of now. Life is very different but must be lived. She plunges ahead.

Three dear friends traverse the same road, three different responses to the storm they endure.

“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, so we should walk in them”.

Ephesians 2:10

Father, help me to honor how you created each of my friends. Please help me to not try to fit them into a box that I understand. Please allow me to love them well in ways they can receive. Amen.

Mulled Cider or Coffee with a Friend

The simmering of favorite spices with a piece or two of orange peel and a bit of honey turns apple juice into a warm, delectable winter treat. Its welcoming aroma invites me and our friends to enjoy. I love both the fragrance and the taste of mulled cider… especially around the holidays. Its tradition spans many Christmases in our home. 

Simmering transforms the ordinary apple juice with the other ingredients into a special drink. For me it is a synonym and a great picture of meditating. Allowing the Word of God to simmer in my heart and mind while pondering its personal implications transforms me. 

Re-reading my journal recently three themes surfaced over and over in different contexts: my child of God identity, my purpose, and my humanity. I guess I need frequent reminders of all these truths. 

New Year’s Resolution #1: Continue to mull over the scriptures that speak of these truths. God probably has more to say. A few of my favorite verses on these topics are…

“What marvelous love the Father has extended to us! Just look at it—we’re called children of God! That’s who we really are.” I John 3:1, MSG

“For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10, ESV

“We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives.”           II Corinthians 4:7, MSG

As yummy as mulled cider is, there are other beverages to savor. And sharing them with a friend at a

local coffee shop is even better.

Sitting with another with steamy mugs between us pictures for me reading my Bible. I hear God's voice as he narrates the action. The big story comes alive. Earlier this fall I ventured out into a new-to-me reading program. I'm walking slowly through it. I want to hear the voice of God not just read all the words. It won’t be finished in a year.

New Year’s Resolution #2: Continue to progress in my Bible reading journey using Professor Grant Horner’s Bible-Reading System. I highly recommend it.

Mulling and savoring—I hope both will characterize my spiritual journey in 2014. Will you join me? Do you have favorite scriptures you want to mull over? Do you have a plan for continuing to move ahead in getting to know the big story? I’d love to walk with you. Friendship encourages!

“God not only loves you very much but also has put his hand on you for something special…       Something happened in you… Your lives are echoing the Master’s Word.”                                     From I Thessalonians 1, MSG (another favorite)

BLESSINGS TO YOU IN 2014!