God’s Marvelous Work In Progress

A couple of years ago I got the idea of building a waterfall and fish pond in our backyard.  The photos above show the beginning stages and the finished project.  Even now when I look at the photo of the early stages of our backyard paradise, (that’s what my daughter calls it) it’s hard to believe that it once looked so raw and undone.  That picture reminds me of what God is doing in each life, in spite of the fact that we and others may look very rough and far from God’s blueprint for our lives.  We have the promise and the hope that the God who created us and began a good work in us will bring it to completion.  If I’m faithful to complete the projects I start, (at least this one) how much more can we trust God with ourselves, our loved ones….yes, and even with the whole world!

We Remember

Memorial Day gives us pause to remember those we love who have died and those who have given the ultimate sacrifice in service to their country.  We are reminded that we stand on the shoulders of those who have gone before us.  We are who we are today because of what others have sown into our lives.  The apostle Paul reminds us to live with a deep sense of gratitude and humility when he asked the question; “What do we have that we didn’t receive?”  There’s no such thing as a self-made person.  As a person, as a Nation, and as people of faith, we stand on the shoulders of many, many others!  We remember and we give thanks.

Life Is Fragile

The saying; “Life is fragile handle with prayer,” is more than just a religious slogan, for there are times when life punches us in the gut and reminds us of just how fragile, delicate and fleeting life is.  It could be the unwelcomed news that a loved one has been diagnosed with cancer, or the evening news reporting the loss of lives in a flood, or a tornado, and again we’re reminded.  We would like to think that life is (we are) indestructible and when we were younger maybe we thought so, but as I get older, not so much anymore.  The idea that life is fragile and needs to be handled with prayer, reminds us that there are things in life beyond our control.  And the only real way to get a handle on these things is through prayer, through trusting in a wise, caring and loving God who created us and holds us and all of our tomorrows in his hands.  Well, if you haven’t done so already today, give someone a hug or a phone call and let them know you’re so glad that God has planted them in your life!  

Loving The Process

I admit that I’m a backyard BBQ enthusiast.  I enjoy grilling steaks and hamburgers, but what I’ve come to enjoy most is smoking babyback pork ribs.  For many years my wife and I have gone to the ribfest in Lincoln.  I got to thinking that I could make ribs just as good.  Last year I humbly confess that I mastered the feat of making some of the best  babyback ribs I have ever tasted.  It’s quite a process.  It takes about six hours to produce some of the most mouth watering, tender, wonderfully smoked flavored ribs you can imagine.  First I apply a special dry rub to the ribs and then I brush them with a special blend of apple juice and BBQ sauce.  I smoke them for three hours on a special smoker, adding apple wood chips to compliment the BBQ sauce.  After three hours of smoking at around 230 degrees, I finish them off in the oven, wrapped in foil smothered in my special sauce.  When they are done the meat literally falls off the bone, it’s delicious! Best ribs I’ve ever had, but then again I’ll admit that I’m a bit biased.  The thing of it is, I enjoy the whole process.  Not just the eating of the ribs.  For me it’s the process that makes it all worth while.  I’m thinking it’s the same way with God.  We might be tempted to think that what thrills God the most is the end result….us being conformed into the image of Christ.  But, I’m thinking that God enjoys the process just as much, as God interacts us with, marinates us in his grace, so that eventually our whole lives will be flavored with God’s love and goodness….so that when others taste of our lives they will be tasting of the goodness of Christ who lives within us!  Gotta go, it’s time to have some ribs…  

Busy As A Bee

There’s a reason we say; “as busy as a bee”. These wonderful little creatures are always on the go, collecting nectar and pollen to bring back to the hive.  In the process as they fly from flower to flower they make it possible for fruit trees and hundreds of other plants to pollinate.  It is estimated that one third of the human food supply depends on insect pollination, most of which is accomplished by the humble honey bee.  This Sunday is “Mother’s Day” and mothers and the honey bee have a lot in common.  Mothers are always busy and when I was growing up, our family was one hundred percent dependent on mom for our food supply.  But my mom did much more than just feed us and cloth us.  Through her unconditional love, her strong unwavering faith in God and in us, she pollinated so many good things, so many God things into our lives how could we not bloom no matter what circumstance of life we found ourselves in.  Thanks, Mom! I think God created motherhood so we could get a glimpse of how great God’s love is for us.  

Come Sit A Spell

It’s good to get alone and think.  To get away from all the artificial noise of the world, the radio, TV, and the sounds of the city.  To listen to the sounds and rhythm of nature, like the gobble of a wild turkey, or the honking of the geese as they fly over and the chatter of the birds.  Life can be so busy that we don’t take the time to connect with the core of who we are, and more importantly, whose we are.  The lone bench in this photo is an invitation to sit a spell and allow ourselves to be spellbound by the wonder and grandeur of creation all around us, that is so easy to take for granted or hardly even notice in the hustle and bustle of work and life.  As we do, I think we may very well rediscover what the Psalmist discovered hundreds of years ago.  And that is, we are never truly alone, in our thoughts or otherwise.  For we can never escape the wonder and grandeur of God’s benevolent care for us.  Though at times the waves of anxiousness and fear seem to wash over our souls and threaten to capsize our hope, we really are never alone, for the cry of our thoughts and our hearts are not hid to God.  Yes, it’s good to sit a spell and remind ourselves, it is well with our soul.       

Christ is Risen!

Several years ago my wife and I visited Jerusalem and one of the highlights was visiting the garden tomb and having communion with our tour group in that setting.  Is this the actual tomb where Jesus’ body was laid? No one knows for sure.  One thing we who are disciples of Christ are sure of is that the tomb (where ever it was) was empty on that first Easter morning.  It is the reality of the empty tomb, because Christ is risen, that fills our hearts with hope and anticipation.  Some might wonder how we can be so sure that the tomb was empty.  We believe Christ is alive, not because we have seen an empty tomb…but like the only hymn says; “you ask me how I know he lives, he lives within my heart”.  Christ lives within our hearts filling us with God’s love and an eternal hope!