There is a "Canyon Course" at Mt. Hermon which is an obsticle course made up of swaying logs, tight wires, ropes which are tied in knots, suspension bridges, and netting which can be climbed on like a ladder.
The course doesn't seem so difficult until you look down and realize you're high above a canyon and the course is suspended amongst the trees high above the canyon floor!
If you're brave enough to attempt the course, you are required to wear a safety helmet and a safety harness which belts around your waist and has leg straps for each thigh. A thick safety rope runs through your harness and splits off like a "Y" and there are two latches at the end of the rope "Y" which are hooked to the guide wire above you. This becomes your lifeline so to speak and prevents you from falling to certain death.
In moving from one course to the next, you have to move your "lifeline" from one guide wire to the next. In order to do so, you must unhook one latch at a time, and your partner must give you permission to unhook the 2nd latch after you've shown that the 1st latch is indeed secure.
Zachary, although only 11 years old, was my partner on the course and I trusted him with my life. He displayed much confidence and he was very responsible. He made sure to give the proper commands and I was certain to obey them to ensure my lifeline was indeed secure before I attempted to move from one guide wire to another.
There is power in teamwork and togetherness and your life journey can be more enjoyable when you walk with the knowledge that you have others to rely on.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 explains it like this.........
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also if two lie down together, they will keep warm, But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
When it comes to having a lifeline it is very empowering when you are able to put complete trust in someone else. Knowing without a doubt that your safety is secure in their hands allows you to move forward and walk with confidence and little fear. (Just don't look DOWN while on the Canyon Course or it might make you weak-kneed like it did me! Yikes!) "But blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him...." - Jeremiah 17:7
It is a wonderful thing to realize that Jesus is our "lifeline" and how great it is to know that He is someone we can ALWAYS rely on. All we have to do is remember....Joshua 22:5 - But be very careful to keep the commandment and the law that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you: to love the Lord your God, to walk in all his ways, to obey his commands, to hold fast to him and to serve him with all your heart and all your soul."
Jesus is the BEST "lifeline" for sure!
Saturday, June 28, 2008
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Gone Fishing
People in general might have a stereotype of Asians and some people might assume I am Buddhist just because of my Asian appearance. When that thought hit me a few months ago I rushed to the Christian bookstore and purchased a "fish," and a window sticker of a boy knealing at a cross, to put on the back of my mini-van.
Anyone who drives behind me or passes me up (I tend to drive slowly from what my passengers say, but hey with the price of gas these days.....) anyway, what an easy way to let people know that I am a Japanese-American Christian and I am NOT embarassed to let that be known. Without having to speak a single word, I am making a statement for Christ while driving around in my mini-van!
I must admit that having a "fish" on my mini-van also helps to keep my driving "in check" and any potential "road upsetness" at bay! Ahh the power of a "fish" -- isn't Jesus wonderful?!!
"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." - Mark 1:17
Anyone who drives behind me or passes me up (I tend to drive slowly from what my passengers say, but hey with the price of gas these days.....) anyway, what an easy way to let people know that I am a Japanese-American Christian and I am NOT embarassed to let that be known. Without having to speak a single word, I am making a statement for Christ while driving around in my mini-van!
I must admit that having a "fish" on my mini-van also helps to keep my driving "in check" and any potential "road upsetness" at bay! Ahh the power of a "fish" -- isn't Jesus wonderful?!!
"Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will make you fishers of men." - Mark 1:17
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Mt. Hermon or Bust!
Today Zachary & I will leave for Santa Cruz to attend an Asian Christian Retreat at Mt. Hermon. This will be our first time away from Tom which makes me nervous with having separation anxiety. This will be a true test of my faith. But God led me to search my Bible and here is what it says.......
For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how orderly you are and how firm your faith in Christ is. - Colossians 2:5
In my nervousness I tend to lose my appetite but not nourishing my body with food is just as bad as not nourishing my soul with God's Word. The Bible says my body is a temple after all.....
My heart is blighted and withered like grass; I forget to eat my food. - Psalm 102:4
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own, you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. - 1 Corinthians 6:19,20
God knit me in my mom's womb as a night owl. (mom was one too!) I am afraid I won't be able to sleep while at Mt. Hermon. Worrying about it only creates more anxiety.
I lie awake; I have become like a bird alone on a roof. - Psalm 102:7
But sharing these fears with those I am with will help to relieve the anxiety. Holding it in and trying to pretend I'm okay, will only make it worse. I will be amongst understanding Christians after all, so I will admit my fear and ask someone to pray with me.
God wants me to have faith and set my worries and fears aside to be open to experiencing his presence this week! God doesn't want me to worry about things at home. All those worries will still be there next week but when I come home from Mt. Hermon, I will probably have a different attitude about them.
Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable are you than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? - Luke 12:22-26
So this will be a wonderful week-long experience of being together in Christian fellowship amongst so many Asians! Being with so many Asians in itself will be an experience for me! And although I will miss Tom, (as will Zack) I will try hard to NOT be afraid without him. Twenty-three years of togetherness is a long time, and absence makes the heart grow fonder!
So I will try hard to be brave this week, knowing Jesus will be with me and that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. - Philippians 4:13 my favorite verse!
In four hours we will hit the road and I will go with this assurance in mind......
"Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the Kingdom." - Luke 12:32
And how great is that!!
For though I am absent from you in body, I am present with you in spirit and delight to see how orderly you are and how firm your faith in Christ is. - Colossians 2:5
In my nervousness I tend to lose my appetite but not nourishing my body with food is just as bad as not nourishing my soul with God's Word. The Bible says my body is a temple after all.....
My heart is blighted and withered like grass; I forget to eat my food. - Psalm 102:4
Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own, you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body. - 1 Corinthians 6:19,20
God knit me in my mom's womb as a night owl. (mom was one too!) I am afraid I won't be able to sleep while at Mt. Hermon. Worrying about it only creates more anxiety.
I lie awake; I have become like a bird alone on a roof. - Psalm 102:7
But sharing these fears with those I am with will help to relieve the anxiety. Holding it in and trying to pretend I'm okay, will only make it worse. I will be amongst understanding Christians after all, so I will admit my fear and ask someone to pray with me.
God wants me to have faith and set my worries and fears aside to be open to experiencing his presence this week! God doesn't want me to worry about things at home. All those worries will still be there next week but when I come home from Mt. Hermon, I will probably have a different attitude about them.
Then Jesus said to his disciples: "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes. Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable are you than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? - Luke 12:22-26
So this will be a wonderful week-long experience of being together in Christian fellowship amongst so many Asians! Being with so many Asians in itself will be an experience for me! And although I will miss Tom, (as will Zack) I will try hard to NOT be afraid without him. Twenty-three years of togetherness is a long time, and absence makes the heart grow fonder!
So I will try hard to be brave this week, knowing Jesus will be with me and that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. - Philippians 4:13 my favorite verse!
In four hours we will hit the road and I will go with this assurance in mind......
"Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the Kingdom." - Luke 12:32
And how great is that!!
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Snail Mail
God sent me a message by way of "snail mail" the other day. (hee hee!)
A snail was perched on top of a big flower bulb which was poking up half-way out of the soil. I squatted down and watched him since I had extra time. (ADHD people have problems with time management and usually tend to run late) As I watched the snail I knew there must be a message God wanted me to learn from this slow-moving creature which He created.
The snail's antennas were slowly twisting about in every direction as he repeatedly turned his head to the left and to the right. He leaned forward to look at the dirt once in awhile as though searching for a careful way to get down from the bulb to reach the soil.
Somehow he managed to crawl up to the top of the big flower bulb, but for some reason he seemed to be afraid to crawl down. He continued to twist his antenna slowly through the air. He continued to turn his head to the left, to the right, down towards the soil and even up at me.
Was he looking to me for help? I blew a small puff of air towards him to see if he would retract into his shell but he didn't. He wasn't afraid of me at all. He was determined to find a way down to the soil. Maybe he was thinking "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." - Philippians 4:13
After searching and contemplating for a very long time (thankfully I wasn't running late yet!) the snail decided to turn sideways to slowly crawl down the flower bulb to reach the soil. What was so special about that particular path? Why couldn't he just crawl down in the direction he was already facing?
I searched my Bible for a long, long time and I just wasn't "getting it." I was getting a little frustrated in wondering "what is the message God wants me to realize via this snail messenger?!" It was taking more time than usual to search my Bible to understand what God wanted me to know but since the message was from a snail I guess searching my Bible was slow going! That in itself was a huge lesson for this impatient ADHD-me since there were a variety of passages that God led me to find and they each spoke to me in some way or another.
The manner in which I live my life is something God wants me to think about. Going through the days at hyper speed will cause me to miss important messages from Him. Slow down. Be still. Don't be so impulsive. Pay attention to what God wants me to do and how He wants me to live my life.
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. - 2 Peter 3:9
Being the usual impatient me (God has his work cut out for him in dealing with an ADHD me! - wink) I have wished to hurry up and get from "Point A" to "Point C" in my faith journey. God doesn't want me to skip "Point B" though. I realize my faith journey is nothing to be hurried and the journey is not only from "Point A" to "Point C."
God wanted me to realize that yes, my faith journey is from "Point A" (the day I was born) but it also includes every letter of the alphabet in between and more! The final destination my faith journey will lead me to is not "Point Z" because through my travels of following Jesus the final destination point will be Heaven! Okay God, I finally get it!!
But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ..... - Philippians 3:20
God wanted me to remember to slow down, don't be so impulsive and God wanted me to realize that I need to be more patient in searching my Bible. (not at the speed the snail messenger was taking I hope - I am too impatient for that yet!) The Bible has many lessons to offer and God wants me to make the time to read them more often. There are sure to be ADHD times where I will say "huh?" but that's why God put Pastor Ellen in my life to answer my many questions!
Take my time. Don't be impulsive. Slow down and think about living my life with safety in mind. God wants me to read my Bible more often and I will grow with the knowledge which it will give me. God wants me to remember that with Jesus as my leader my path and faith journey will be safer. God sent me this message by "snail mail" and it seemed to be at the snail's pace, but finally I "got it."
Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. - 2 Peter 1:2
A snail was perched on top of a big flower bulb which was poking up half-way out of the soil. I squatted down and watched him since I had extra time. (ADHD people have problems with time management and usually tend to run late) As I watched the snail I knew there must be a message God wanted me to learn from this slow-moving creature which He created.
The snail's antennas were slowly twisting about in every direction as he repeatedly turned his head to the left and to the right. He leaned forward to look at the dirt once in awhile as though searching for a careful way to get down from the bulb to reach the soil.
Somehow he managed to crawl up to the top of the big flower bulb, but for some reason he seemed to be afraid to crawl down. He continued to twist his antenna slowly through the air. He continued to turn his head to the left, to the right, down towards the soil and even up at me.
Was he looking to me for help? I blew a small puff of air towards him to see if he would retract into his shell but he didn't. He wasn't afraid of me at all. He was determined to find a way down to the soil. Maybe he was thinking "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." - Philippians 4:13
After searching and contemplating for a very long time (thankfully I wasn't running late yet!) the snail decided to turn sideways to slowly crawl down the flower bulb to reach the soil. What was so special about that particular path? Why couldn't he just crawl down in the direction he was already facing?
I searched my Bible for a long, long time and I just wasn't "getting it." I was getting a little frustrated in wondering "what is the message God wants me to realize via this snail messenger?!" It was taking more time than usual to search my Bible to understand what God wanted me to know but since the message was from a snail I guess searching my Bible was slow going! That in itself was a huge lesson for this impatient ADHD-me since there were a variety of passages that God led me to find and they each spoke to me in some way or another.
The manner in which I live my life is something God wants me to think about. Going through the days at hyper speed will cause me to miss important messages from Him. Slow down. Be still. Don't be so impulsive. Pay attention to what God wants me to do and how He wants me to live my life.
The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. - 2 Peter 3:9
Being the usual impatient me (God has his work cut out for him in dealing with an ADHD me! - wink) I have wished to hurry up and get from "Point A" to "Point C" in my faith journey. God doesn't want me to skip "Point B" though. I realize my faith journey is nothing to be hurried and the journey is not only from "Point A" to "Point C."
God wanted me to realize that yes, my faith journey is from "Point A" (the day I was born) but it also includes every letter of the alphabet in between and more! The final destination my faith journey will lead me to is not "Point Z" because through my travels of following Jesus the final destination point will be Heaven! Okay God, I finally get it!!
But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ..... - Philippians 3:20
God wanted me to remember to slow down, don't be so impulsive and God wanted me to realize that I need to be more patient in searching my Bible. (not at the speed the snail messenger was taking I hope - I am too impatient for that yet!) The Bible has many lessons to offer and God wants me to make the time to read them more often. There are sure to be ADHD times where I will say "huh?" but that's why God put Pastor Ellen in my life to answer my many questions!
Take my time. Don't be impulsive. Slow down and think about living my life with safety in mind. God wants me to read my Bible more often and I will grow with the knowledge which it will give me. God wants me to remember that with Jesus as my leader my path and faith journey will be safer. God sent me this message by "snail mail" and it seemed to be at the snail's pace, but finally I "got it."
Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord. - 2 Peter 1:2
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Follow the Leader
Today a mama duck and 7 tiny ducklings were following in a row behind her and wasn't it all in God's plan that I should be driving down a rural road at that particular time, when they were crossing from one side of the irrigation canal to reach the other side. God knew that today my path would meet up with the path of the ducks which He created. God sent this mama duck and her ducklings to give me a message.
How does a mama duck teach her baby ducklings to stick together and follow along right behind her? What would happen if the ducklings didn't obey? If they didn't obey they surely would not be protected. Being "infants," the ducklings know to stick with their mama until they are bigger and better able to care for themselves.
I am an "infant" in my faith journey so to speak. God wants me to know that Jesus is my leader. I don't have much Biblical knowledge but God wants me to know that I will be safer and more confident if I follow Jesus.
I will still slip up and make mistakes, no doubt. The great thing is that no one is perfect. Only Jesus is. Being Christian doesn't ensure that I won't make any wrong choices and making mistakes in life can be a blessed learning experience and Jesus always forgives. All I have to do is repent and ask from my heart for His forgiveness.
Learning more from the Bible and getting to know Jesus better will help me in making the right decisions in life. And who is a better teacher or leader than Jesus!? He is the best and ONLY leader to follow!!
When Jesus saw the crowd around him he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake. Then a teacher of the law came to him and said "Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go." - Matthew 8:18,19
How does a mama duck teach her baby ducklings to stick together and follow along right behind her? What would happen if the ducklings didn't obey? If they didn't obey they surely would not be protected. Being "infants," the ducklings know to stick with their mama until they are bigger and better able to care for themselves.
I am an "infant" in my faith journey so to speak. God wants me to know that Jesus is my leader. I don't have much Biblical knowledge but God wants me to know that I will be safer and more confident if I follow Jesus.
I will still slip up and make mistakes, no doubt. The great thing is that no one is perfect. Only Jesus is. Being Christian doesn't ensure that I won't make any wrong choices and making mistakes in life can be a blessed learning experience and Jesus always forgives. All I have to do is repent and ask from my heart for His forgiveness.
Learning more from the Bible and getting to know Jesus better will help me in making the right decisions in life. And who is a better teacher or leader than Jesus!? He is the best and ONLY leader to follow!!
When Jesus saw the crowd around him he gave orders to cross to the other side of the lake. Then a teacher of the law came to him and said "Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go." - Matthew 8:18,19
Thursday, June 12, 2008
It was part of God's plan
From the time I was looking to develop my faith (about 3 1/2 years ago) God knew which paths that he would have me travel. The starting point was at the church in Stockton which Pastor Ellen was the pastor of and it offerred the hope which I so needed.
But after a short while I came to a road block on that particular path to Jesus and this scared little lost lamb ventured away with much resentment, fear and frustration. I felt that even God had let me down.
God knew just how empty this lamb's soul was. God knew how weak I was in my faith in Jesus Christ and he knew I was lacking Biblical knowledge. God knew which paths this starving malnourished lamb should take in order to find the spiritual nourishment I was in need of.
God knew what happened and why Pastor Ellen left the church in Stockton. God also knew that the down trodden group of people who loved the Lord and left that church as well would soon meet up at the fork in the road where my path would cross with their path.
God knew how crucial it was for this frightened and searching lamb to meet up with a kind-hearted group of shepherds. God knew that I would travel the path to a group of shepherds whose hearts were filled with the love for and of God. He knew I was weak and starving and he knew just who could provide the spiritual nourishment that I so needed in order to grow and become stronger in Him.
And that was the beginning of my faith journey.
Sunday, June 8, 2008
Walking in Wisdom
He who trusts in himself is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom is kept safe. - Proverbs 28:26
There was no need to worry about walking at Relay for Life and potentially breaking down and openly crying in front of anyone over missing mom. Instead I had my "protective bubble" around me. That "bubble" is what protects me emotionally and it goes up automatically whenever I want to distance myself from whatever uncomfortable situation it is that I am facing.
It may not be the healthiest way to cope but it is the method I have used for so long that it has just become a bad habit. However, I did not walk my hour-long shift because I was feeling emotionally numb and really didn't want to even be there.
God's singing bird messenger of the night came to greet me AS SOON AS we got home from the Relay today. As I unloaded the van, God's special bird messenger rested in the tree directly above my van and sang her heart out to me.
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me." - John 14:1
I imagine she was probably scolding me while singing "I TOLD you not to be anxious." "Allow yourself to be sad and mourn." "Just give it over to God with trust." "Stop trying to be so controlling." "Why are you being so stubborn?" "Don't be a fool and trust in yourself."
This singing bird messenger with the beautiful chirps was sent to me from God and she wants me to believe in my heart and remember....When I am afraid, I will trust in you. - Psalm 56:3
There was no need to worry about walking at Relay for Life and potentially breaking down and openly crying in front of anyone over missing mom. Instead I had my "protective bubble" around me. That "bubble" is what protects me emotionally and it goes up automatically whenever I want to distance myself from whatever uncomfortable situation it is that I am facing.
It may not be the healthiest way to cope but it is the method I have used for so long that it has just become a bad habit. However, I did not walk my hour-long shift because I was feeling emotionally numb and really didn't want to even be there.
God's singing bird messenger of the night came to greet me AS SOON AS we got home from the Relay today. As I unloaded the van, God's special bird messenger rested in the tree directly above my van and sang her heart out to me.
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me." - John 14:1
I imagine she was probably scolding me while singing "I TOLD you not to be anxious." "Allow yourself to be sad and mourn." "Just give it over to God with trust." "Stop trying to be so controlling." "Why are you being so stubborn?" "Don't be a fool and trust in yourself."
This singing bird messenger with the beautiful chirps was sent to me from God and she wants me to believe in my heart and remember....When I am afraid, I will trust in you. - Psalm 56:3
Friday, June 6, 2008
God's Late Night Messenger
American Cancer Society's "Relay for Life" is this weekend and for the first time in five years, I have not been looking forward to participating. I have had much anxiety because I have been missing mom so much and I am afraid I will cry and be sad but Pastor Ellen says tears are healing. Tom has to work until early afternoon so he can't be with me to offer his support if I should need to lean on him.
As I am journaling this, God has sent his beautiful singing bird messenger of the night to sing her joyous songs of hope to me.
The Opening Ceremony with the "Survivors Lap" stirs up some anxiety with memories of mom participating in the past and it creates much sadness just thinking about it. The thoughts of Tom's brother currently enduring his cancer treatments also makes me sad for him and for the rest of our family who all care so deeply about him.
I am very anxious over the balloon release which we personally hold in memory of mom. We release a balloon in mom's memory & watch it rise up in the air with an attached sentiment tied to the string. We watch the balloon rise until we can no longer see it in the sky. I don't plan to write a message to mom but in my head and in my heart, I will be sending mom a message too.
The Luminaria Ceremony also makes me anxious because while watching it in the past without any grief of my own, I once cried in sadness for others and mom was still alive then. How will I hold up this weekend?
So God's bird messenger of the night sings to me right now with encouragement and she wants me to.....Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. - 1 Peter 5:7
And if anxiety should take over while at the Relay this weekend and if I have to cry, God's bird messenger of the night sings her compassionate song to me and wants me to know that .....Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. - Matthew 5:4
God's bird messenger of the night is also singing to me with joy and reassurance right now as she sings with certainty........Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. - Psalm 63:7
God's bird messenger of the night is confidently singing to me right now and wants me to rely heavily on this verse.......When I am afraid, I will trust in you. - Psalm 56:3
Isn't God good in knowing me so well? God always knows just what I need and when I need it, in order for me to "get it."
As I am journaling this, God has sent his beautiful singing bird messenger of the night to sing her joyous songs of hope to me.
The Opening Ceremony with the "Survivors Lap" stirs up some anxiety with memories of mom participating in the past and it creates much sadness just thinking about it. The thoughts of Tom's brother currently enduring his cancer treatments also makes me sad for him and for the rest of our family who all care so deeply about him.
I am very anxious over the balloon release which we personally hold in memory of mom. We release a balloon in mom's memory & watch it rise up in the air with an attached sentiment tied to the string. We watch the balloon rise until we can no longer see it in the sky. I don't plan to write a message to mom but in my head and in my heart, I will be sending mom a message too.
The Luminaria Ceremony also makes me anxious because while watching it in the past without any grief of my own, I once cried in sadness for others and mom was still alive then. How will I hold up this weekend?
So God's bird messenger of the night sings to me right now with encouragement and she wants me to.....Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. - 1 Peter 5:7
And if anxiety should take over while at the Relay this weekend and if I have to cry, God's bird messenger of the night sings her compassionate song to me and wants me to know that .....Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. - Matthew 5:4
God's bird messenger of the night is also singing to me with joy and reassurance right now as she sings with certainty........Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. - Psalm 63:7
God's bird messenger of the night is confidently singing to me right now and wants me to rely heavily on this verse.......When I am afraid, I will trust in you. - Psalm 56:3
Isn't God good in knowing me so well? God always knows just what I need and when I need it, in order for me to "get it."
Thursday, June 5, 2008
One Way, No U-Turn Allowed
God knit me in mom's womb with ADHD on purpose. One positive aspect of my brain being wired this way is that I notice so much within my surroundings with the wide-angled vision God gave me. (distractibility, as some might say) He also wired me with an inquisitive, questioning mind.
Seeing things with my eyes and hearing things with my ears often causes me to take notice and observe for long periods of time. Quite often these things which I notice and become inquisitive over, leads me to search my Bible to find the special message God wants me "to get."
This morning the bird that has been singing late at night in total darkness, made her presence visible to me as she sang beautifully in front of our house. I was pruning the rose bushes when I heard her joyous singing so I scanned the air in search of her.
Hearing her joyful singing while only in complete darkness made me all the more courious to search for her and see just what she looked like. After a short while, she flew to the phone wire while singing along the way. I don't know what breed she is for sure, but she resembles a mockingbird.
She sat on the wire while joyously singing. She flew a short distance to the top of the phone pole where she continued to sing. She flew to the redwood tree in our front yard where the branches hid her from my view. But even though I could no longer see her, I knew she was there because her beautiful singing chirps made her presence known to me.
From the redwood tree she flew overhead to a tree on the otherside of our property and continued to sing her beautiful song to me. After awhile she flew back to the phone wire and seemed to be watching me while continuing her lovely song.
God wanted me to know that even though I can't see him, he is always there. God sent me this singing bird messenger to get my attention and in turning my head this way and that to follow where she was flying to, it allowed me to see in a tangible way that even when hidden from view by the branches of the trees, I knew she was still there.
Since being baptized and born again, God wants me to realize there is no turning back. I have accepted Jesus into my life and I am to follow and obey. Sometimes I will get lost along the way or I might even stray, but God sent me this beautiful bird to remind me to follow the "signs."
The important signs God wants me to pay attention to are "No U-Turn." I accepted Jesus and now I am His. There is no turning back. The other important sign that I am to remember is "One Way." I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. - John 14:6
So in turning my head to the right and to the left while watching this singing bird fly to and fro, God wanted me to "get" His message, and that message is.......Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it." - Isaiah 30:21
This bird messenger who sings her beautiful songs, also wanted to prove a point in a tangible way that even though I can't see God, he is always there!! Hooray for that!!
Seeing things with my eyes and hearing things with my ears often causes me to take notice and observe for long periods of time. Quite often these things which I notice and become inquisitive over, leads me to search my Bible to find the special message God wants me "to get."
This morning the bird that has been singing late at night in total darkness, made her presence visible to me as she sang beautifully in front of our house. I was pruning the rose bushes when I heard her joyous singing so I scanned the air in search of her.
Hearing her joyful singing while only in complete darkness made me all the more courious to search for her and see just what she looked like. After a short while, she flew to the phone wire while singing along the way. I don't know what breed she is for sure, but she resembles a mockingbird.
She sat on the wire while joyously singing. She flew a short distance to the top of the phone pole where she continued to sing. She flew to the redwood tree in our front yard where the branches hid her from my view. But even though I could no longer see her, I knew she was there because her beautiful singing chirps made her presence known to me.
From the redwood tree she flew overhead to a tree on the otherside of our property and continued to sing her beautiful song to me. After awhile she flew back to the phone wire and seemed to be watching me while continuing her lovely song.
God wanted me to know that even though I can't see him, he is always there. God sent me this singing bird messenger to get my attention and in turning my head this way and that to follow where she was flying to, it allowed me to see in a tangible way that even when hidden from view by the branches of the trees, I knew she was still there.
Since being baptized and born again, God wants me to realize there is no turning back. I have accepted Jesus into my life and I am to follow and obey. Sometimes I will get lost along the way or I might even stray, but God sent me this beautiful bird to remind me to follow the "signs."
The important signs God wants me to pay attention to are "No U-Turn." I accepted Jesus and now I am His. There is no turning back. The other important sign that I am to remember is "One Way." I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. - John 14:6
So in turning my head to the right and to the left while watching this singing bird fly to and fro, God wanted me to "get" His message, and that message is.......Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it." - Isaiah 30:21
This bird messenger who sings her beautiful songs, also wanted to prove a point in a tangible way that even though I can't see God, he is always there!! Hooray for that!!
Monday, June 2, 2008
Even in Darkness, I will be there
Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eyes grow weak with sorrow, my soul and my body with grief. - Psalm 31:9
In my deep sadness and anger of late, and not even turning to God for strength or comfort, God still sends me his messengers late at night, in pitch darkness to let me know he is with me always.
Oddly enough, in the dead of night without being able to see into the darkness, there is a bird who is somewhere in the distance singing joyfully in beautiful song. She was doing this late last night and is doing so now as I type, even though it is after 1:30 a.m.
This bird isn't just chirping some boring, dull, monotone chirps. She is singing a beautiful song of joy with a variety of chirps which she sings differently, two, three, four times in a row before changing the pitch of her chirps in more ways than is believable.
Even in complete darkness in the middle of the night, God wants me to know that even though I can't see Him he is always there. In a way which only He knows, God sent me this singing messenger of the night in order to help me "get it."
But no one says, 'Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night, who teaches more to us than to the beasts of the earth and makes us wiser than the birds of the air?' - Job 35:10,11
And even when I forget that God is always there for me to turn to for strength and comfort, God loves me no matter what and promises......
........'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you," - Hebrews 13:5
In my deep sadness and anger of late, and not even turning to God for strength or comfort, God still sends me his messengers late at night, in pitch darkness to let me know he is with me always.
Oddly enough, in the dead of night without being able to see into the darkness, there is a bird who is somewhere in the distance singing joyfully in beautiful song. She was doing this late last night and is doing so now as I type, even though it is after 1:30 a.m.
This bird isn't just chirping some boring, dull, monotone chirps. She is singing a beautiful song of joy with a variety of chirps which she sings differently, two, three, four times in a row before changing the pitch of her chirps in more ways than is believable.
Even in complete darkness in the middle of the night, God wants me to know that even though I can't see Him he is always there. In a way which only He knows, God sent me this singing messenger of the night in order to help me "get it."
But no one says, 'Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night, who teaches more to us than to the beasts of the earth and makes us wiser than the birds of the air?' - Job 35:10,11
And even when I forget that God is always there for me to turn to for strength and comfort, God loves me no matter what and promises......
........'Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you," - Hebrews 13:5
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