Through the Eyes of a Child

I hate cleaning toilets.

In fact, hate isn't a strong enough word.  Detest.  Despise.  Abhor.

There's only one thing I hate worse--you got it:  dirty toilets.

I must admit that my disposition isn't always at its sun-shiniest when tackling the dreaded job.   When my oldest was about three years old she came racing into the bathroom and asked what I was doing.  I grumbled something (unkind and impatient) like, "What does it look like I'm doing?!"

Completely undeterred by my grumpy attitude she joyfully shouted, "Making bubbles!!!"

Yep.  Making bubbles.  To this day I think of that every time I clean toilets.  It doesn't make me love it, but it does make a twitch of a smile cross my face.

Today it's snowing and blowing like crazy.  Grownups see it as something to shovel, a hazard for driving, and the beginnings of lots of mess in the entry way.  The kids see it as the beginning of lots of fun.  Undeterred by cold or discomfort, they're rioting around, making trails everywhere, snow angles are randomly flying around the yard, and they just can't wait for enough to sled in.

It's so good to see things through the eyes of a child.

About the same time, the disciples came to Jesus asking,

"Who gets the highest rank in God's kingdom?"

For an answer Jesus called over a child,

whom he stood in the middle of the room and said,

"I'm telling you, once and for all, 

that unless you return to square one and start over like children,

you're not even going to get a look at the kingdom, let alone get in.

Whoever becomes simple and elemental again,

like this child,

will rank high in God's kingdom."

Matthew 18:4 MSG

Celebrating bubbles and snowflakes.

The kingdom of heaven.

Here on earth.

Wake the Dawn

"...I will wake the dawn with my song."

The coming of the dawn...new beginnings...fresh starts...hope...the end of the darkness.

Is it possible to wake the dawn?  With a song?

I think so.

This I know for sure:  worship/praise/thanksgiving brings freedom, provision and miracles.

Enemies flee.  (2 Chronicles 20:21-22)

Prison walls fall down.  (Acts 16:25-28)

Provision multiplies.  (Matthew 15:36)

Hearts are encouraged and strengthened. (I Samuel 30:6)

I will wake the dawn with my song.  For every place where I long to see freedom, I will lift up my heart in worship.  For every place I see need I will thank the Provider.  In every situation where I see torment I will seek the heart of Peacemaker with worship.  Where worry and despair weigh down, I will lift up a song.

Wake the dawn.  With your song.

"My heart is confident in you, O God;

no wonder I can sing your praises with all my heart!

Wake up, lyre and harp!

I will wake the dawn with my song.

I will thank you, Lord, among all the people.

I will sing your praises among the nations.

For your unfailing love is higher than the heavens.

Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.

Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens.

May your glory shine over all the earth."

Psalm 108:1-5

His Hand on My Head

When we were kids my Dad would put his hand on our heads and pray for us every night when we went to bed.  We love to tease him now about how he would punctuate his prayers by pushing our heads into the pillow.  It would go something like this, "I thank you, Lord (push), for Michelle (push).  I pray that you will bless her (push) and give her a good night's sleep (push).  In the name (push) of Jesus (push), Amen (push!)! I couldn't go to sleep without it.  Our kids love when we reenact this for them and my dad mutters something about "trying to knock some sense into you".

Now when I'm having a challenging day, I go to my husband and place his hand on my head.  He knows exactly what I'm asking for and, though he doesn't use many words or any pushes, his prayers are very effective.

Could be why I love this verse:  "You go before me and follow me.  You place your hand of blessing on my head.  Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too great for me to understand!"

His hand of blessing.

On my head.

Oh, how I need it there!  Just pausing and thinking about it does wonder for the contents of my head!

I need that hand of blessing to fill me with joy in this gloomy day...to fill me with strength for the duties of the day...to fill my mind with thoughts of blessing for those who may be annoying or even offensive...to fill me with awareness of His grace for me when I'm the one being a twit...to make me alert to His thoughts about the people and situations around me...to make me aware of the many blessings He's placed in my life...  And it does!  His hand of blessing contains everything we need.

May you sense His hand of blessing on your head today!

Psalm 139:5-6

Freedom!

I grew up on stories of my family's experiences in World War II.  I never got tired of any of them, but my hands-down favourite was the story of the day Canadian soldiers liberated their village.  The idea of being born into occupied territory, always living in fear and hunger, and then  having handsome young soldiers show up and tell you that you're free...it captivated my imagination.

I love the movie Braveheart too.  All the gore and action that would normally turn me off completely is no match for the passion it stirs in my heart.   The thought of a man who will stop at nothing to gain freedom captivates me.

The idea that young men would leave their homes and families to sail across the ocean to liberate a country and a family that they'd never met is more than I can fathom.  That someone would die for my freedom is...breathtaking.

We were created to be free at any cost! I have a passion for freedom.  I want the whole world to know that our freedom has been purchased for us.  Someone did give everything for our freedom!  Freedom from every form of oppression has already been purchased for us...from fear, addiction, depression, anxiety, self-hatred, anger, bitterness, rejection, abuse, despair--you name it!  The one who the Son of God sets free is truly free.

However, it is necessary to believe and receive the gift.  The first step is to believe that Jesus Christ really is the Son of God and that His death and resurrection purchased your freedom from the ravages and pain of a sin-broken life and world.

How sad would it have been if my father's family had told the liberating soldiers, "That's nice," and then returned to their home to live as though nothing had changed?  Every life that had been laid down for their freedom would have been wasted.  The gift had to be believed and received.

To receive the freedom we need to follow the guidance of the Liberator.  He leads us into more and more freedom...through forgiving those who have hurt and harmed us...by thinking His kind of thoughts...by receiving and using the gifts of His Spirit...by trusting that He can make something beautiful out of everything that we give to Him...by believing that through faith in Him all things are possible!   Relationship with Him heals the wounds of the past and transforms a life.  Failure to follow His directions in these things will leave the shackles on even though they've been unlocked.

He loves us so much!  Everything He has ever done has been about connecting us to His heart of love and freedom.

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me,

for the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.

He has sent me to comfort the broken hearted

and to proclaim that captives will be released

and prisoners will be freed.

He has sent me to tell those who mourn

that the time of the Lord's favour has come...

He will give a crown of beauty for ashes,

a joyous blessing instead of morning,

festive praise instead of despair.

Isaiah 61:1-3a

John 8:36

Faith

It started snowing Wednesday afternoon.  My kids had been waiting for it, longing for it, ever since we took the pool down.  Within minutes they were outside.  There was only the barest skiff  of white on the ice of the dugout and they were making snow angels.  No need for two feet of the stuff before they feel the joy.

"Now faith is the substance of things hoped for..."  These words go through my head as I watch from the window.  A more modern translation says, "Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen..."

The kids are hoping for enough snow to ski/board on.  Hopefully by tomorrow.  The fact that there's only enough to make the skimpiest of snow angels isn't hampering their joy one bit.  They've seen evidence of things "hoped for".

I think we grownups need to live like that.  We've got the down payment.  Party like you know the rest is on the way!  It is.

 "Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave it up for us all,

won't he also give us everything else?"

Romans 8:32

Hebrews 11:1

Act of Worship

I dropped the ball today.  A couple of balls, in fact.  An extra got thrown into the juggling act and everything came crashing down.  Or dripping down.  In little salty puddles on my desk.  I uttered my most eloquent prayer: "Help!"

A desperate woman once came to Jesus and threw herself at his feet.  It's recorded that she came "and worshiped him, saying, Lord, help me!"

Turns out that desperately calling out isn't a sign of failure, but of worship.  She worshiped him saying, "Lord, help me!"

Worship isn't just about giving the best we have to offer, our talents, our hearts or our obedience.  It also includes acknowledging that He is the source of all that we need.

No magic wand swept away all my "dropped balls" this morning, but within minutes I had an encouraging phone call with a friend.  While on the phone another texted and said, "Praying for you right now.  How are things?"  Half an hour later another text from another friend saying they were thinking of me.  Really? 

Oh, how He loves us!  Jesus showed up "with skin on" in the form of my friends.  Their expressions of love strengthened my weary heart and gave me the courage to pick those balls back up and to get juggling again.

Matthew 15:25

Determination

I knew there would be days (probably Tuesdays, my marathon day) that it would be hard to keep up the daily commitment to blog...

I did a poll at suppertime for suggestions.  Only one was made, "Blog about determination!  Determination to do what you said you would do!"  Out of the mouths of babes...  It did remind me of one of my favorite verses.

"Because the Sovereign Lord helps me,

I will not be disgraced.

Therefore I have set my face like a flint,

determined to do his will.

And I know that I will triumph.

Isaiah 50:7

Determined to do his will.

His will...loving the unlovable...patient in parenting...serving the unthankful...faithful in the things no one else will ever know about...forgiving...giving...thankful in all things...honoring each other...

Difficult, if not impossible, to triumph in all of that apart from His help.

I like the word triumph.  It's not "barely" or "limping across the finish line".  We might be able to manage that on our own strength.  However, with His help we can triumph!  Not disgraced.  Exuberant and emphatic victory!

The trick is not trying to do it on our own strength or out of our own ability.

Lean into Him for help.

With His help we will triumph.  Guaranteed.