Talking to Angels and Crickets...

REGARDING PSALM 103  ~

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me bless His holy name!  Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: who forgives ALL my sin, who heals all my diseases, who redeems my life from the pit, who crowns me with His steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies me with good so that my youth is renewed like the eagle's.  ....

When I sit to read God's word this morning, it envelopes me with it's deliciousness. I want to rush through the chapters and gorge on it, but the richness, and deep sweetness is found in tiny increments for me to savour and contemplate as I read each word, each phrase, each line. [For instance, I just love how many hundreds of times I see the word, "steadfast" used before the word "love", when describing God's love towards me.] 

My heart pounds as I read aloud in this empty room, the words of Psalm 103.... when I get to talk to the angels who stand in God's presence and do his bidding...I want to shout...shout loud enough to reach across the expanse of all creation so as to reach the ears of every last one of them and command them to bless the Lord with me!! "Bless the Lord, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, obeying the voice of his word! Bless the Lord, all his hosts, his ministers who do his will!"

I like to think about the little crickets and clouds, the trees and wildflowers and stars all hearing me tell them to bless God with me. "Bless the Lord, all his works, in all places of his dominion..."

By the time I reach the next to the last phrase of the Psalm, instead of shouting, my eyes are filled with tears and my voice quiets and faulters.  I find myself at just a raspy whisper as I return to the final words: "Bless the Lord, O my soul."  I realize how very small I am in the scope of all creation and eternity.  If the angels are busy and don't pay me any heed, if the stars have all fallen asleep, if the cacophony of the traffic drowns out the sound of my voice so the wildflowers and trees and crickets don't join me....even if I am all alone in this tiny corner of the earth, I will bless the Lord, with a full heart and overflowing soul.

BLESS THE LORD, O MY SOUL, AND ALL THAT IS WITHIN ME BLESS HIS HOLY NAME!

The Last Letter Home

In 1900, an uprising in China against Christians and evangelical churches claimed some 32,000 lives.  The Shanxi Province was a particularly dangerous place to openly follow Christ. Lizzie Atwater, a young pregnant missionary there, wrote a final letter to her parents on August 3, 1900:
"Dear Ones, I long for a sight of your dear faces, but I fear we shall not meet on earth... I am preparing for the end very quietly and calmly. The Lord is wonderfully near, and He will not fail me. I was very restless and excited while there seemed a chance of life, but God has taken away that feeling, and now I just pray for grace to meet the terrible end bravely. The pain will soon be over, and oh the sweetness of the welcome above!

 My little baby will go with me. I think God will give it to me in Heaven, and my dear mother will be so glad to see us. I cannot imagine the Savior's welcome. Oh, that will compensate for all of these days of suspense. Dear ones, live near to God and cling less closely to earth. There is no other way by which we can receive that peace from God which passeth understanding.... I must keep calm and still these hours. I do not regret coming to China, but am sorry I have done so little. My married life, two precious years, have been so very full of happiness. We will die together, my dear husband and I.


I used to dread separation. If we escape now it will be a miracle. I send my love to all of you, and the dear friends who remember me."


Lizzie saw eternity.  Twelve days after her letter was written, on August 15, 1900, Lizzie Atwater, her unborn baby, and six other missionaries were hacked to death by their guards.

May God give us the same courage, and his peace that passes understanding during the uncertain times we live in. If you don't know Jesus, please write me and let me introduce you.  We are in very precarious times. You need all the courage and help God has available for you.

Shallow Happiness

 "The difference between shallow happiness 

and deep sustaining joy is sorrow." 

- W.Wangerin

They Also Serve Who Only Stand and Wait...

Ready or not, a new year has begun. Budgets, diets, schedules, and new lists of resolutions should be made by now...here in this 3rd week of January.  I like the feeling of hopefulness about all that lies ahead, but I have to admit, another feeling competes with that hopefulness. It's a feeling of "Wait a minute! I am at the starting line, the guy has just fired the gun to start the race, but where are we running? How far do we have to go? and WHY are there not pointers showing which way to even run?!" 

Do you ever feel that way?  Spiritually, I am especially aware of this deep hunger to be found in the center of God's will, doing whatever He has in mind...but I am clueless as to what that actually is!  My pessimistic mind usually fills in the blank with whatever is least desirable or requires the most amount of self denial, forcing the Holy Spirit, like a referee stepping in, to gently remind me that is not how God "wills".

A couple years ago, in a study with my mentors, Sara and Ava, we studied this beautiful poem by John Milton, that has stuck with me ever since, and given me peace on these days when I wait...

On His Blindness
John Milton (1604-1674)

When I consider how my light is spent

Ere half my days in this dark world and wide,

And that one Talent which is death to hide

Lodged with me useless, though my soul more bent

To serve therewith my Maker, and present

My true account, lest He returning chide,

"Doth God exact day-labour, light denied?"

I fondly ask. But Patience, to prevent

That murmur, soon replies, "God doth not need

Either man's work or his own gifts. Who best

Bear his mild yoke, they serve him best. His state

Is kingly: thousands at his bidding speed,

And post o'er land and ocean without rest;

They also serve who only stand and wait."

Merry Christmas! Happy Birthday, Jesus. I love you!

In the Bleak Midwinter

Christina Rossetti (1872)

In the bleak mid-winter

Frosty wind made moan,

Earth stood hard as iron,

Water like a stone;

Snow had fallen, snow on snow,

Snow on snow,

In the bleak mid-winter

Long ago.

Our God, Heaven cannot hold Him

Nor earth sustain;

Heaven and earth shall flee away

When He comes to reign:

In the bleak mid-winter

A stable-place sufficed

The Lord God Almighty,

Jesus Christ.

Enough for Him, whom cherubim

Worship night and day,

A breastful of milk

And a mangerful of hay;

Enough for Him, whom angels

Fall down before,

The ox and ass and camel

Which adore.

Angels and archangels

May have gathered there,

Cherubim and seraphim

Thronged the air,

But only His mother

In her maiden bliss,

Worshipped the Beloved

With a kiss.

What can I give Him,

Poor as I am?

If I were a shepherd

I would bring a lamb,

If I were a wise man

I would do my part,

Yet what I can I give Him,

I'll give Him my heart.

Happy First Day of Autumn!

Broken in the right places

Years ago, a friend gave me the book, "Broken In the Right Place" by Alan Nelson.  I didn't like reading about being broken, but today I can testify to the validity of the book.  He begins by describing the most beautiful, wild stallion. In all it's glory, it is strong and proud and free. It rules over the other horses just by it's powerful presence. It is a glorious sight! Everyone who looks on is in awe, as it bucks and prances and revels in its elegance.

Yes, yes, yes!!! ....so why couldn't he just have stopped there? I would like that so much better....but he asks the question. "How useful is that horse to it's master?"

Uh, I guess it is useful for breeding, but it can't be ridden or used for any helpful tasks. It will never be in tune with a rider or know how to take instruction to go anywhere specific. To the master it has far less value than the broken horse next to it.

Pain. Discipline. Rebuke. Work. Training. More pain.  These are the elements required to make any self-willed, strong-willed animal usable to a master. Thankfully, we are not just like horses, and our Master is gentle and most patient.  He leads us and trains us carefully, but he does break us.  We get to choose to put ourselves into his care in the first place. And we get to choose our response to his "breaking" of us. By nature, it could be easy to respond to him with bitterness, hurt feelings, and temper tantrums. But if we trust him, if we believe it is for our good, if we know that it will lead ultimately to our happiness and usefulness to him, we can let him break us and carry us while we heal correctly. We can accept his comfort and companionship through the process, and something supernatural will begin to happen.  Our spirit, and His spirit begin to communicate, and come in tune with one another.

Serendipity. Gentleness. Courage. Strength. Grace. Usefulness to the Master.  These are just a few of the results that come from allowing him to break us....in the right places.

Oh, somehow Father, break me in the right places and make me useful and pleasurable to you!

Part 3 of this little filmlet...

If you haven't watched the first 2 parts, please do before you see this last little bit. No "word picture" is perfect, but hopefully you will catch a glimpse of the eternal by the way this portrays a picture of Christ loving his children...  He loves you, more than any man or woman can love you. You have more worth to him than you can possibly know. Let that change the way you see yourself and others. Enjoy...

Part 2 of Yesterday's movie...

Here is part 2 of yesterday's little filmlet.  I know the acting/actors are less than steller, but the message is a glimpse of the eternal, so I simply must post it!  Enjoy...

A picture of Christ's love...

Please don't be mistaken. I am not a Mormon. This odd little filmlet was produced at one of their universities, which I do not wish to support or promote, however, it had a deep impact on me as a young woman.  I don't know if there are any men on earth quite like this Johnny Lingo, but more than that, this is a beautiful picture of Love. I imagine this must be how Christ loves me, and sees what I can be, not the mess that I may be at present.   :) 

Here is the first of it's 3 parts...

Love...

"Once you have been loved by God,

you are loved completely,

and you do not need to grasp anymore." 

 -Shirley Rice

Faith and Poise...

"True Christian faith finds its greatest triumph, not in the visible exploits, but in a quiet confidence and poise when there are no encouraging circumstances."  - Richard Taylor

We Have This Moment

We have this moment to hold in our hands

And to touch as it slips through our fingers like sand

Yesterday's gone and tomorrow may never come

But we have this moment, today.

Hold tight to the sound of the music of living

Happy sounds from the laughter of children at play

Hold my hand as we walk through the sweet fragrant meadows

Making memories of what was today.

Tiny voice that I hear is my little girl calling

For daddy to hear just what she has to say

My little boy running there by the hillside

May never be quite like today.

Tender words gentle touch and a good cup of coffee
And someone who loves me and wants me to stay
Hold them dear while they’re near don’t wait for tomorrow
To look back and wish for today.


Yesterday's gone and tomorrow may never come
but we have this moment, today.
- Gloria Gaither

A glimpse...