Time with Dad

When you live this far north you go kind of crazy at the first sign of spring. Even though there's still snow as far as the eye can see, there was warmth in the sun today and so we sat on a south-facing deck and soaked it up. Nine degrees (that's forty-eight for my American friends) holds all the glory of a summer day when you've been cooped up by cold and howling winds for more than six months.

In the distance I heard the roar of a motorcycle engine and it brought back my best springtime memory...

My dad peeling back the sheet that shrouded the Honda Gold Wing all winter and wheeling it out into the spring sunshine--the precursor to an adventure. He'd tweak and tune things until it ran just right and then he'd polish all the chrome. The first ride went to the youngest--not too long. Then the next sibling for a slightly longer ride. I'd sit on the front step, arms wrapped around my knees, containing my anticipation, holding a secret--I was old enough, big enough, for a really long ride. I was quiet in the knowledge that it was going to be worth the wait.

About twenty kilometers from our house was a dairy where my grandfather had worked when they first immigrated to Canada. The dairy still made and served ice cream. This was the secret destination.

I'd climb on the back, wrap my arms tightly around his waist, and hang on for the ride. There was a thrill and exhilaration as we sped up. Stray hairs whipped my cheeks, the thrum of the engine filled my ears, and my face was split by a grin. On the last twisty stretch of road my body would lean into each curve imitating his, keeping us safely balanced, and then we'd arrive.

Cool, creamy, grape-flavored ice cream in a cone. Always grape in those days before my taste buds became permanently fixated on chocolate. We'd sit in the shade of a tall elm tree--he with his maple walnut and me with my grape--and we'd lick and talk. And I'd feel special, happy to be recognized as the daughter of my father, the friendly man with the easy smile and sharp bike.

I don't remember the details of a single conversation, but my soul has been shaped by the time spent. I was absorbing his character and ideas. I was gaining a sense of my own identity as seen through his eyes.

Time spent with our Papa shapes us. When we look into the eyes of our Father and see His love shining we cannot remain the same.

Pause and be in His presence and you'll be forever changed.

There is no room in love for fear.
Well-formed love banishes fear.
Since fear is crippling, a fear-filled life
--fear of death, fear of judgment--
is one not yet fully formed in love.
We, though, are going to love--love and be loved.
First we were loved, now we love.
He loved us first.
1 John 4:18-19

My Dad on my son's dirtbike
August 2010

Spring is Here!

Today is the first day of Spring. So far about six inches of fresh snow has fallen. Is it spring or isn't it spring?

If I look out my window at the "facts", I would definitely say winter!! However, if I could see from some sort of cosmic perspective, I would recognize the "fact" as being that the earth has reached a certain angle on it's axis wherein the northern hemisphere is angling back toward the sun. Spring is here. Really.

If I could see from some sort of cosmic perspective.

His plans for me are good... (Jer. 29:11)

I am a masterpiece... (Eph. 2:9)

God will not let me be tested beyond my strength... (1 Cor. 10:13)

All things work together for good... (Rom. 8:28)

I will pass safely through the sea of distress... (Zech. 10:11)

He will repay two blessings for every trouble... (Zech 9:12b)

He will complete the good work He started... (Phil. 1:3-6)

He will restore health and heal wounds... (Jer 30:17)

I will lack no good thing... (Ps. 34:10)

God will supply all my needs... (Phil. 4:19)

He delights in every detail of my life... (Ps. 37:23)

He always leads me in victory... (2 Cor. 2:14)

The enemy will not succeed... (Jer. 1:19)

He will restore broken relationships... (Mal. 4:5)

There are days when the "facts" that I can see with my eyes would weigh my heart down with despair. I need a cosmic perspective! What He has said, what He has spoken and declared to be true, is more true than any evidence to the contrary. Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see. Faith pleases God.

For since the world began, no ear has heard,

and no eye has seen a God like you,

who works for those who wait for him!

(Isaiah 64:4)

Anchored to Truth

I convinced my husband to sign up for dance classes. Really. We grew up in a church culture that frowned upon dancing, but my body longs to move with music. You'd think that longing would translate into some sort of instinctive ability, but it doesn't. I need to be told. I need to envision diagrams on the floor and follow them. I think it must take a lot of patience to teach me. Yet, once I get it, I think it's a blast.

At dance class the instructor intervened several times with helpful tips. Close to the end of the class he approached me and told me I just wasn't doing it right. "What's wrong? Why can't you get it?"

Panic.

I was back in grade nine algebra with the teacher using similar words. What, indeed, is wrong with me? If you don't know and I don't know, then we are in dire straits. Maybe there is something "wrong" with me. Just as in grade nine, I realized at this moment that everyone was looking at me. And at my abysmal failure. As in grade nine, the floor didn't open up and swallow me. Thankfully, with maturity has come the ability to endure to the end with a modicum of dignity.

I awoke several times in the night with a swirl of thoughts and emotions to process. Being a less-than-great dancer isn't a big deal. The response, however, was a clue to something significant.

Fast forward a few days and I find my girls are frequently shrieking in frustration at their brother and I'm repeatedly scolding him for tormenting them. The poor boy needs some better weather so he can burn off his energy outside. In the wake of all this chiding, he sidles up to me and asks, "Do you still like me?" And then, "Why?"

In that moment I recognize that it's in times of weakness and failure that our identity is assaulted. Who am I? Stupid? Again? Failure? Bad?

Knowing who we really are is the key to getting through these rough waters. By "knowing" I mean that you've spent so much time pondering and meditating on it, that it's what bubbles to the surface in difficult times. Being anchored to truth doesn't mean that we won't be tossed about, but it does mean that we won't be shipwrecked.

What sort of tapes play in your head when you recognize failure? What does your Papa say about you?

"...I long for him (my darling child) and surely will have mercy on him." Jer. 31:20b

"My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." 2 Cor 12:9

"For God has said, 'I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.' So we can say with confidence, 'The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me?'" Heb. 13:5-6

Secure in these truths we can venture into life boldly risking vulnerability and failure.

I've sometimes wished to reduce God to a fairy god mother who would magically wave a wand over my life and render everything perfect inside and out. He provides so much more. He offers to walk with us, picking us up when we fall, and lending His strength. All the while we grow from strength to strength and from glory to glory.

"I love you, Lord; you are my strength.

The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock,

in whom I find protection.

He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.

I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and he saved me from my enemies. The ropes of death entangled me; floods of destruction swept over me.

The grave wrapped its ropes around me; death laid a trap in my path.

But in my distress I cried out to the Lord; yes, I prayed to my God for help.

He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry to him reached his ears."

Psalm 18:1-6

There's a Plan

Forty-nine years ago there was a brand new hospital opening in Woodland Hills, California. A woman in labour arrived at the hospital while grand-opening celebrations were underway. She was young and healthy and had already delivered three babies. No one noticed until it was too late that the baby was very large and breach and the mother was slipping away. A priest was called to administer Last Rites.

Yet, that is not the end of the story. We don't know what happened next, but we do know that God had a plan and that Brian and his mom are alive and well and living purpose-filled lives. I've been blessed with a wonderful husband, my kids with a wonderful father, and innumerable people have been enriched by his friendship. There's no counting the effect of all that he's designed, created, built and sung about. There was a plan.

God had a plan. His plan trumps everything else. Every time.

Do you know that you're here by Divine Appointment?? Your existence is no accident. The very moment of your conception was a miracle of perfect timing and a creative miracle--two cells joining to become one new life. You. Not an accident, but evidence of a holy plan. God said, "Let there be life!"

He wants you to know that your life is a gift and that there's a design and purpose for you. There's a plan that's unique to you, evidenced by the giftings He has placed within you, and there's plan for all of His children. We were all created to spread this message of hope to the weary and hopeless. Everyone that you come into contact with today needs to be reminded that they're loved and that there's hope and a purpose for their lives.

Listen for the whispers of His unique plan for you. Shout of His love to everyone you meet.

Before I shaped you in the womb,

I knew all about you.

Before you saw the light of day,

I had holy plans for you:

A prophet to the nations--

that's what I had in mind for you.

Jeremiah 1:5

A Case of Mistaken Identity

Someone recently used my credit card on the other side of the continent. They pretended to be me. It was a case of mistaken identity.

Another recent day someone was quite rude to me, treating me as though I'm not actually the beloved daughter of the King. I almost believed it. Another case of mistaken identity.

So much hinges on knowing who we are.

Some days I act like a twit. I'm insensitive and self-centered. Recognition of that fact is uncomfortable and it would be easy to think that my identity is Idiot or Stupid or Failure Again. That's not who I am.

Some days people around me are demanding and unthankful. It would be easy to treat them like that's who they are.

Some days people are dealing with their own stuff and they feel threated, anxious, insecure or jealous and they respond to others with an attitude of, "Who do they think they are??"

There's only one true identifier of who I am and who you are. It's not my opinion and it's not your opinion...it's all about who our Daddy is and what He says about us. He uses words like:

Beloved (2 Thessalonians 2:13)

Treasure (Deuteronomy 7:6, 1Samuel 25:29)

Precious (Isaiah 43:4)

Delight (Isaiah 62:4)

Friend (John 15:15)

Forgiven (Romans 8:1-2)

When my actions contradict those facts I need to apologize--do whatever is required to clean up my mess--but I'm still who He says I am. When the words or actions of others disagree with what He says, I need to forgive them and remind myself of the truth.

I am who He says I am.

You are who He says you are.

Even before he made the world,

God loved us and chose us in Christ

to be holy and without fault in his eyes.

God decided in advance to adopt us

into his own family by bringing us to himself

through Jesus Christ.

This is what he wanted to do,

and it gave him great pleasure

Ephesians 1:4-5

Learn of Him

"Christ doesn't command us to trust him, he invites us to learn of him."

Sy Rogers

What an amazing Savior... Not a command, but an invitation. "Learn of me..."

He is kind. (Matt 14:14; Mark 1:41; 5:32; 6:34)

He has time for children. (Matt. 19:13)

He's gentle to those we might despise or look down upon. (John 8; Mark 2:15)

He's fierce to those who oppress others. (Matt. 23:13)

He is patient with the process. (John 4)

He's concerned about our physical needs. (Matt 8:14-15; 15:36)

He cares about relationships. (John 19:27)

He has a sense of humour. (Mark 3:17)

He invests in joyful celebration. (John 2:1-10)

He's compassionate and acquainted with sorrow. (John 11:35)

He gives second chances. (John 8:11)

He knew that if we learned of Him, it would be inevitable that we would trust Him.

Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion?

Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life.

I'll show you how to take a real rest.

Walk with me and work with me--watch how I do it.

Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.

I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.

Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly.

Matthew 11:28-30 MSG

This is far from a complete list--just some of my favorites. Feel free to add yours in the comments!

Two Sons--the Same only Different

I recently heard a speaker say that the prodigal son found everything he had been looking for when he returned to his Father's house. I had to ponder that a bit.

Seems to me that the runaway son was looking for love, a sense of significance and, dare I say, fun? He exhausted himself and his resources without finding lasting satisfaction. Until he returned to his Father's house, that is.

The older brother never left, but seemed to have the same hunger. He was existing right in the middle of all that he craved, but he was living like he still needed to earn it. It was his Father's desire for him to know he was loved and significant. His Father longed to for him to enjoy their relationship, to live in joyful celebration.

Many live like one or the other of these boys. Some are in constant pursuit of pleasure and significance from the stuff of this world. It's an insatiable hunger that never gets satisfied. Others sit in their Father's house never knowing that all He has is already theirs--they don't need to earn it. They are hollow-eyed with hunger as they sit in the presence of plenty

It's when you know that you are the beloved, treasured child of your Father that you find significance and contentment. We need to stayed tucked in close to Him to keep that awareness fresh in our minds...otherwise, we seem to wander and begin to search for it elsewhere. When we really know it we're not so quite so devastated when others don't recognized how lovable and significant we are. When we really know it life becomes fun.

Look into His face and you will see that you are loved--no matter what you may have done or not done. You can't earn it, and you can't lose it.

The Lord your God is with you;

His power gives you victory.

The Lord will take delight in you,

and in his love he will give you new life.

He will sing and be joyful over you...

(Zephaniah 3:17)

You can find the whole story of the two sons in Luke 15:11-31.