A Snowy Sunday

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As a pastor’s wife for 25 years, I can’t remember ever sleeping in on a Sunday morning. “Should I go to church today or not?” never enters the thought process. For me, a Sunday without church is like Thanksgiving dinner without turkey, the 4th of July without fireworks, a peanut butter and apple sandwich without the apples. That’s why yesterday seemed so weird. Something was missing all day.

The midwest was hit with a winter storm Saturday night, complete with blizzard warnings in our area. For the first storm of the season, it was a real doozy. Snow piled up all night and by morning nobody was going anywhere. So instead of getting up and going over to church, like every other Sunday morning, I lolled about in my pjs. Instead of turning the lights on in all the Sunday school rooms, putting out the attendance folders, unlocking the basement enterance, welcoming the kids, running a Christmas program rehearsal, warming up praise band, and playing piano……

I sat in front of the fire and read the Christmas story, sang a few hymns, said a few prayers. I liked it. I could worship like that….. once every 25 years or so. But I just love being with my friends at church on Sunday mornings, so that’s where I’ll be next week, Lord willing.

 I rejoiced with those who said to me, “Let us go to the house of the LORD.”Psalm 122:1

Pick Me

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After the last post, and pondering how Mary responded to God’s message, I’ve been wondering how other people in the Bible reacted to a word from the Lord. For instance, Joseph. There is not one recorded word in the scriptures from the mouth of Joseph. In fact, almost every time he’s mentioned, he’s sleeping. God speaks to Joseph four times, each time in a dream. God is always telling Joseph to “get up”. To Joseph’s credit, what follows is, “so he got up” — but not a word. He must have been the strong silent type.

Now, take Moses. God speaks to him from a burning bush about delivering the Israelites from slavery in Egypt. After giving God four reasons why he is not the man for the job, Moses finally just spits out, “O Lord, please send someone else to do it.” It reminds me of trying to find someone to teach the Junior High Sunday school class.

Then there’s Isaiah. God said, “Whom shall I send?” and Isaiah is like the kid in the back row of the 3rd grade classroom who desperately wants to be the first one to give the answer to the teacher. Isaiah shoots his hand up in the air and almost falls out of his seat, saying “Ooo, oo, oo, me! Send me!!! Pick me!!!” God must have loved that. Especially after dealing with Moses.

Demure Mary, quiet Joseph, reticent Moses, enthusiastic Isaiah – God used them all, regardless of the adjective before their name.

Where There’s a Will…

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I don’t know how preachers do it. Every year during Advent, they must sermonize about Luke 1-2 for several weeks. The story is so familiar and the list of characters is quite small. It must be challenging to shed new light on the old account. Ah! but the wonder of God’s Word is such that there is a gift hidden for the one who seeks. I ask the Lord each Christmas season to show me something new and I’ve never been disappointed.

In church on Sunday, we read about Mary’s response to the angel’s announcement that she was going to have a baby. I’ve always been puzzled that such earth-shattering news delivered by a heavenly being got such an undramatic response. “I am the Lord’s servant. May it be to me as you have said,” doesn’t come close to what my reaction would have been.  (Something more like, “WHAT?!?!?!?!?”) 

Then I noticed something brand new right there in Luke 1. One little word, spoken 9 times by the angel:

“You WILL be with child…”

“He WILL be great and WILL be called the Son of the Most High…..”

“The Lord God WILL give him the throne…”

“He WILL reign….”

“His kingdom WILL never end….”

“The Holy Spirit WILL come upon you….”

“The power of the Most High WILL overshadow you….”

“He WILL be called the Son of God….”

It was a done deal. The plan was already in motion and Mary’s answer was perfect. She didn’t say, “Yes, I’ll do it” or “No, find someone else” because she wasn’t asked; she was told. And there was no way she was about to debate with a heavenly messenger talking about thrones and kingdoms and power.

Sometimes God asks us, “Will you?”. Sometimes He says, “You will.”

“Your kingdom come, Your will be done,” is the best answer still.

I Lift Up My Eyes

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I lift up my eyes to the hills…  Psalm 121:1

In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him.  Psalm 95:4

You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace; the mountains and hills will burst into song before you.  Isaiah 55:12

For who is God besides the Lord? And who is the Rock except our God?  Psalm 18:31

Mountains just make you want to think lofty thoughts.  They are one thing I wish I could have brought home with me.  Well, that and my daughter.  And my son-in-law.  So…three things.

AND NOW, FOR SOMETHING TOTALLY DIFFERENT:  As promised, pics of people in awkward positions trying to get comfortable in the vehicle.

It’s hard when you’re 6″3.

That’s better!

It’s harder when you’re 6″4.

Yep, those are Subway sandwiches.  The two boys didn’t stay long in the backseat because the back bumper started dragging on the highway.  I did enjoy a glorious hour in the front seat, though. 

Home again, home again, jiggety-jig.

Go East

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After two and a half lovely days gathered as a whole family in Salt Lake City, five of us hopped back into the van and drove back east.  We decided to change things up on the way home.  We left the beautiful Wasatch Mountains that surround Salt Lake City in the daytime, thus having some real scenery to enjoy for hours.  By the time we hit Nebraska, it was getting dark and that suited us just fine.  The two boys pulled an all-nighter and drove throughout the wee hours of the morning.  My dear hubby took over at sunrise and carried us home, arriving at 7:30 a.m.  We made a pact to never drive 3,000 miles in five days again in our lifetime, but it was memorable and worth the time we had together.

                              The sibs standing in front of the Great Salt Lake.

                                     Carving the Thanksgiving turkey.

                             Looking out at my husband standing in the snow.

                                              Saying goodbye to the fam.

Go West

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Reporting from somewhere west of where I usually am:

The 20 hour car ride turned into a much longer trek due to snow packed and slippery roads ALL ACROSS WYOMING.  We saw about 3 houses and aside from a lonely gas station along the interstate, very little proof of civilization.  Are there more than 12 people in Wyoming?  ‘Cause that’s all we counted.

My dear hubby drove all but 3 of those treacherous hours, bless his heart.  He’s the kind of man I can trust with my life – he’s proved that over and over.  But, being the considerate spouse that I am, I thought I should help him out on that bad stretch of highway by alerting him when he was getting too close to the truck in front of us, or suggesting he change lanes, or grabbing the door handle and stomping on the imaginary brake on my side of the floorboard.  You know, helpful stuff like that.

Because of one passenger’s aversion to unhealthy fast food, the only alternative was Subway.  So, we stopped at Subway in Iowa, Subway in Nebraska, and Subway in Wyoming.  When we pulled into our hotel last night, we couldn’t help but notice a Subway right across the street, which produced a gagging reflex by all.

      Iowa…or Nebraska…..no, Iowa……or Nebraska

          Nebraska, I’m pretty sure……or Iowa. 

          Definitely Nebraska……..or Wyoming.  A hill!!

              Wyoming…………

             Wyoming…………………..

               Wyoming…………………..

20 Hour Car Ride

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Over the holidays, we will be traveling across the country to see our daughter and her husband in Utah.  Yep, it’s a 20 hour car ride.  So, I’m thinking about what I need to bring along to make the time fly (since I can’t).   I’d appreciate your suggestions.  Keep in mind we are packing 18 years worth of our daughter’s memorabilia and special-somethings in the van, so space is limited.  Also take into consideration that 5 adults will be enjoying close-knit family time, so we all need to be as annoying-free as possible.  That reminds me, I’ll bring my knitting.

Here’s my list so far:

1. Knitting needles and yarn.  I shouldn’t need much yarn since I usually make a mistake about halfway through a scarf and have to unravel it all anyway.  (I don’t know how to pick up dropped stitches yet.)   I’ll knit through Iowa, unravel through Nebraska, knit through Wyoming, unravel through Utah.

2.  Ipod.  I need to remember to download some free podcasts and put all my Christmas music back on.  Thank you, Lord, for ipods.  I couldn’t stand to listen to my kids’ music.  What?  They feel the same about mine?  No way.

3.  Books:  I’m bringing “Radical” by David Platt.  (I had to wait 4 months on inter-library loan for this book.  Gonna be good.)  Oh, and my favorite, “Diary of Private Prayer” by John Baillie.  (See Oct. 6 post)  It’s always good to have some prayers handy in case we hit a blizzard in Cheyenne.  Magazines: Country Sampler, Shop Smart, Real Simple, Bible Study (yes, there is a magazine called Bible Study).  

4.  Videos:  Two sweet friends gave me the PBS presentation of “Emma” for my birthday.  My daughter and I will torture the boys with Jane Austin.  And talk in High English accents for miles and miles.  That shouldn’t be too annoying.

5.  Snacks: Granola bars, string cheese, apples.  Licorice. 

6.  Idea notebook.  You never know when inspiration will hit.  Plus, it’s always fun to record quotes from grouchy people in the backseat, unless I’m the grouchy person in the backseat.

7.  Computer.  Blogging on the road might be fun.  Solitaire will come in handy during hours 16-20.

8.  Camera.  Expect to see lots of pics of people sleeping in awkward positions in reclined car seats.  There will be numerous photos of treeless landscapes and a long ribbon of highway, I have a feeling. 

9. Crossword puzzles:  I’ve been stashing the daily newspaper crossword away for a few weeks.  I’ll try not to cheat by looking at the answers in the next day’s issue.

So, what else should be on my list?

The Gift of an Hour

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My times are in your hands.  Psalm 31:15

Today is my favorite day of the year! No, really! Today marks the end of Daylight Savings Time. There’s something lovely about getting an extra hour to use however you want. There’s something powerful about taking the minute hand and sweeping it backwards, defying time itself. There’s something magical about being given the gift of an hour. How shall it be spent?

I like this day because it’s not a holiday, so there is no hype, no advertising, no gift buying. The mail is still delivered, the grocery store is open, everything carries on as usual. But all day long I am aware that there is a bonus built into this one day. I feel a real sense of anticipation as I search for appropriately worthy ways to fill this space of time. Sometimes I read, sometimes I pray, sometimes I sleep. Tonight, I write.

Is it possible that every hour is such a gift?

Singin’

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I love musicals. My favorite all-time movie is “Singin’ in the Rain”. It makes me want to break out into a spontaneous song and dance routine while grocery shopping or gassing up the van. Except, unlike the movies, where everyone suddenly joins in with perfect four-part harmony and synchronized dance step sequences, I would be afraid of having to explain my behavior to a police officer. But, oh, to live in a world where people bust out with a show tune and it snowballs into a real show stopper, right there in the check out line. What a fine world that would be.

Music is a powerful force. Just try to imagine living without music. One of the best things about a song is how it can transport you back to a place and time. For instance, when I hear James Taylor’s “Smiling Face”, I’m sitting in my dorm room writing a letter to my future husband. I was falling in love with his smiling face even though we were four states away from each other. That song reminds me of those carefree days and the excitement of a future out there somewhere.

Maybe that’s why the last thing Moses did before climbing a mountain to die, was to teach the Israelites a song. He knew a sermon wouldn’t be remembered after he was gone, and he had already given his share of commandments. But a song…a song would stick with them. So, he composed a song, a very long song, and taught it to the whole assembly of Israel. (Deuteronomy 32) Imagine a 120 year old man standing before a nation, delivering the performance of a lifetime. It would not be forgotten. It would be sung and re-sung for generations. A reminder of their heritage, of their glory days, of their God and His faithfulness.

Moses’ song must have been a good one, because, as it turns out, it will continue on in the last days. (Revelation 15:2-4)  Maybe my dream of being in a spontaneous outburst of song and dance isn’t that far away.

Saved By Grace

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For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace. Romans 6:14

I once knew a boy who was picked up for speeding. He was issued a ticket and given a stiff fine. There was some question in his mind about the whole thing, so he went back to the scene of the crime and re-enacted the event. It was proven that he couldn’t have been going 35 mph in a 25 mph zone because he had just come to a stop at an intersection and wasn’t able to get up to 35 mph where he was clocked. Also, on the ticket, the car was reported to be brown. The boy’s car was blue. Hmm….  The boy decided that he should plead his case.

On judgement day, the boy stood before Her Honor to defend himself. He presented his case with humbleness and respect. Clearly, a mistake had been made and he was certain that his straight-forward honesty would redeem his driving record. The judge asked, “Were you speeding?” Not one given to lies, he admitted that he was perhaps going 27 mph. “Then you broke the law.” Once again, he reiterated the facts that didn’t seem to line up. “You admitted to going over the speed limit.” Gavel bangs. Guilty.

I once knew another boy who had a fender bender. He was issued a ticket and given a stiff fine. There was some question in his mind about the whole thing, so he went back to the scene of the crime and re-enacted the event. It was proven that the car turning the corner had cut into his lane, causing the minor accident. The officer took both driver’s statements and the boy pleaded his case with humbleness and respect. Clearly, a mistake had been made. The other driver said, “I may have cut into his lane.” The boy, not one given to lies, said, “I did roll forward slightly.” Gavel bangs. Guilty.

So it is with the law. There is no grace. Admitting even the slightest infraction makes you a law-breaker. In fact, the law makes you want to be less than truthful; the law makes a sinner out of you.

All that passing laws against sin did was produce more lawbreakers. But sin didn’t, and doesn’t, have a chance in competition with the aggressive forgiveness we call grace. When it’s sin versus grace, grace wins hands down. Romans 5:20

Now, for something truly remarkable: In the mailbox, an envelope appears; no stamp, no address, just the name of the boy. An anonymous note: “Like the MasterCard commercial: truthfulness – priceless.” Inside the envelope: cash to pay for the ticket.

Grace wins hands down.