Caught Off Guard

When you live on the coast your ears perk up anytime there is mention of a Hurricane or Tropical Storm off the coast. You tend to listen to the weather report a little more often, maybe tune into the local news to see the latest track of Hurricane whoever. It's pretty typical for storms this time of year, that's what happens when you live on the coast.

Last week we were watching Matthew as it was making it's way in the Atlantic. in the beginning of the week it looked as if we could be a target, so we began our customary preps. We took our patio umbrellas down, removed most of the hanging plants and started tidying up a bit. The forecast didn't show anything happening till the weekend, so we figured we had a few days to finish our preparations.

Our local weather guys announced Wednesday that a cold front was moving through and would push the storm away from us. Matthew wasn't going to effect us after all, we were in the clear.

Since the storm was no longer a threat, we went about our normal day to day business, we would finish our preps later, there was no longer any urgency we had a couple of weekends yet to get the summer stuff put away. I really didn't pay any attention to the news anymore, everything seemed good.

Fast forward to Saturday, my husband and i had separate things going on, he was helping a friend with some home repair and I went to an Estate Sale, going about our normal business.

What no one was expecting was the cold front and the tropical storm kind of collided and turned into a Northeaster and it was a doozy. The 1-2 inches of rain that had been forecasted turned into 12 inches and the wind was twice as bad as they thought it would be. Add the factor that we had tow high tides during the storm. Our city had flooding everywhere.

We both got home before the flooding was bad and we didn't have any damage. We had left our car out in the street and it took on some water but it started and will just need some time to dry out. Why didn't we put it in the driveway, because we never expected our street to flood. We lost power for about 12 hours as well and like the car we didn't prepare for that either, all our little devices, like my phone were just about dead when the power went out because I had neglected to charge them. I didn't expect that we would lose power.

I was thinking about this whole event yesterday and how it can have a Spiritual analogy. How often do we get so caught up in the business of today that we forget or neglect the things of the Spirit. Are we living each day as if the Lord could come at anytime or that we could be called home at any moment? Are we preparing for the return of the bridegroom? Are we in prayer for those that may not be Saved (especially those we love) with the urgency that he has called us to have. Are we preparing our hearts daily, are we keeping our focus on Him, looking for his return?

I am guilty of getting caught up in the day to day, of being complacent. Feeling thankful today that he continues to remind me, even with a storm, where my focus needs to be.

Closure

Last week we made a trip to the Mountain House, that's five trips this year. It's hard for me to believe we have made that trip so many times in such a short span, but we did. Our trip last week will probably be our final one and one of the purposes was for Closure. Does "Closure" really even exist?

My husband wanted to pick up the split black walnut logs that were stored in the basement of his parents home. His grandfather and my husband had split those logs years ago back on the farm when he was growing up. The wood represents a memory for my husband of his grandfather and of times they spent together on the farm.

The house is empty now, the household goods sold months ago. The outside has been kept up and mowed regularly but the flower beds that they were so proud of, are weed filled and overgrown and the fountain they loved so much, hasn't been used in almost eighteen months. Everything is a shell of what it once was.

There has been so much the Lord has shown us through this process. The biggest thing is how fleeting life is. Everything you strive to obtain in this life will be picked over by perfect strangers and sold to the highest bidder or donated to wherever or just tossed in the trash. Think about that please! How much better it would be to invest in the eternal instead of the temporal. 

We were able to take some things that held memories. Things that wouldn't mean anything to anyone else or have any value to anyone but us, that have been a blessing and a comfort to my husband. Many of those things were from his grandparents farm and stored in an attic.

The Lord has used this and continues to use this event to shown me how desperately I need a Savior. Feelings and hurts that had long been buried came to the surface with each visit. Wounds that only Jesus could heal, sin exposed that Jesus stands waiting to forgive. It is a work in progress but our Lord is so faithful in our need for Him.

It's and end of an era of sorts. My husband has had family living in that little town for over a hundred years, they are now all gone. Nothing last forever except eternity.

The house will be on the market soon, as will the small farm with the falling down buildings my husbands grandparents owned. We were able to rescue a clump of daffodils from the farm last spring, I'm hoping to see them bloom next year, it will help remind my husband and Sweet Lady of their grandmother. I'm told that little piece of property looks nothing like it did years ago.

The one thing I want to emphasis is how FAITHFUL God has been through all of this.  There were so many "but God" moments. Things that happened that shouldn't have happen, grace upon grace upon grace was given to us. So even though it is sad to see this chapter close we know God is and has been directing this and will continue to do so, this we can be sure.

Not Our Home

We drove up to see our youngest son this weekend to attend a couple of concerts he was in. It has been almost a year since we have had the opportunity to see him play and this was a two for one (one weekend two concerts) We also had a day to do some sight seeing in DC, such a treat because it was a gorgeous day outside. Enjoyed both concerts, the day of touring was fun and the weekend seemed to end as quickly as it began.

Driving home, I remarked to my husband that I felt like I was a little out of place in the area, it was a different culture, (for lack of a better word) it was young, professional, physically active, electronically connected and busy. I enjoyed visiting...always do, but DC is not like home.

Then I started thinking, isn't this how we are to feel here on earth, kind of out of place, strangers in a foreign land. This truth should influence the choices I make, my attitudes, what I hold as valuable and important, how tightly I hold onto things ... the list could on but you get the message. It is so easy for me to lose view of eternity, reminded again that I am just passing through....this earth is not my home.

Making Use of Time

Time, it's the one thing we have that once is lost cannot be regained. We each have a set number of days, an allotted amount of time.

The reality is...life is short, death can come unexpectedly and eternity is forever. Each and every one of our days need to be lived with those three things in mind.

Man's days are determined, you have decreed the number of his months and have set limits he cannot exceed  Job 14:5

Teach us to number our days aright that we may gain a heart of wisdom  Psalm 90:12

your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be  Psalm 139:16

I have said many times that I wanted to live my life without regrets. I don't want to come to the end of my days and wish I had made different choices. My heart has been burdened for the last couple of months about the importance of using my time for his purposes, and to make the most of opportunities. He has been reminding me that the doors that are open today may quickly shut and opportunities could be lost. My prayer Lord, is to give me more sense of the eternal when making decisions today

Looking Beyond

China Beach, Point Lobos State Reserve

"The beauty of the created world was never meant to be the beauty that would fill the eyes of our hearts. It was never meant to be the beauty to which we would look for satisfaction and peace. It was never meant to be the beauty that we would give ourselves to search for, live for, cry for and die for. No, the physical glories of this created world are meant to be sign glories. The amazing beauty that surrounds us every day was designed to be sign beauty. All of the beautiful things that we see, touch, taste and hear every day were designed to be signs that would point to the ultimate beauty that can be found only in the One who created them.
 So when you are looking at the beauty that surrounds you in the physical world that is your present home, require yourself to look beyond the signs to the stunning beauty of God to whom each sign points. Only his beauty can give you hope, strength and peace. Only his beauty can give you life."
taken from...A Shelter in the time of Storm by Paul David Tripp... page 46

I found this an interesting read this morning as I have just been so struck with the beauty of Monterey and Big Sur. It was God's little reminder that yes, his creation is beautiful but it is only his beauty that can truly satisfy



Big Sur, California

Keeping Forever In View

I woke up early this morning, before the sun was even up. I could have gone downstairs but instead I laid in bed thinking about the day ahead. I thought about the friends I might run into today, situations I have been praying for in their lives and mine.Then I started praying for each situation as the Lord would put a name on my heart, asking the Lord how he would want me to pray.

We all want answers to our prayers and I believe that God does answer prayers but in that moment I felt like the Lord was asking me...what if these situations don't change...how are you going to encourage? What if this is my plan for them. What if your circumstances don't change, what if this is where you are going to stay, are you willing to be satisfied?

Can we still have peace, joy, contentment, even in the midst of difficult situations, I think we can if our hope is vertical instead of horizontal. I know it is not always easy, we get tired, weary, discouraged...we want relief! So back to the question, how to encourage or be encouraged if a circumstance never changes? We need to encourage each other to put our hope in that which does not change. ( The Lord and his promises) We need to be reminded  that this world is not our forever. We need to be reminded that God is in control and that he will never give us more than we can bear, that he always has a plan and it is always for our good....always. We need to help each other see what we cannot always see, through God's word

We need to be reminded that horizontal hope will always fail us (hope in people, things, jobs, health, finances etc....broken world, fallen people) but we have a hope that is secure, that will not fail us.

With Christ as our savior this life is as bad as it gets, without Christ this life is as good as it gets. That gives me hope

Praise be to God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade, kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time  1 Peter 1:3-5

It All Points To Him

"All creation is a finger pointing to the Lord of creation, in whom life can be found. Creation was made to introduce us to him over and over again.
The temporary pleasures of this present world are meant to point you to the lasting pleasure of knowing God. The rising of the sun each morning is meant to remind you of his faithfulness. The crushing power of a devastating storm is designed to make you reflect on his power. The sweetness of a human kiss is meant to remind you of his tender care. The dependency of the baby is there to remind you of your constant need for God. The fading beauty of the daffodil is meant to help you see his eternal beauty. The imperfect justice of the human community is there to remind you that God is perfectly just. The tender moment of human mercy is there to cause you to rest in his mercy. That five-course meal is an opportunity to reflect on and be thankful for the spiritual food you need and the God that graciously gives. The shifting stars in the night are created to remind you that Jesus is the light that never shifts or fades. Every experience of love is meant to point you to his love. Every moment of grace is there to cause you to run to his grace. All of creation is a finger pointing to God. It was not meant to replace him"

Excerpt from "Forever" pages 50-51 by Paul David Trip

With Eternity In Mind

A comment from a friend made me stop and take notice the other day. We were talking about praying for unsaved loved ones. She said simply, I just pray Lord, do whatever you have to do. That's trust talking, that's letting go and giving the person to God.

 I  pray for the salvation of loved ones..."but do whatever you have to do"... think of the implications of that statement, I had conditions, I hadn't really given those loved ones over to the Lord to "do whatever he had to do" to bring them into fellowship with him?

The discussion continued, I was reminded that God's plan often does not look like ours and what would seem like a horrible scenario could be just the plan God would use to bring someone to the end of themselves, and yes it can be painful. Could I get to the point where I could trust God with the life of one I loved? OK not just say it but really mean it?

I know God is good, I know he is sovereign and in control, now I just need to live as if I believed it.

Who has understood the mind of the Lord or instructed him as counselor? Whom did the Lord consult to enlighten him, and who has taught him the right way? Who was it that taught him knowledge or showed him the path of understanding?  Isaiah 40:13-14

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of heaven and earth, He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom  Isaiah 40:28

Yard Sales

One of my favorite ways to spend a Saturday morning is to check out yard sales and I happened to be blessed with a husband who enjoys it as well. We start out our morning by stopping at the local convience store to pick up a newspaper and then  head out to the coffee shop to make our plan.

We decide on a city, try to find sales that are close together, plug them into the Magellan and off we go. (Magellan makes things so much easier)

The things we look for varies depending on what we need but we are always on the lookout for kids' clothes, gardening items and lately things for Sweet Lady's home. We've run across some deals. Our Lazy Boy rocker was on it's last legs last summer when we ran across one that was gently used and a tenth of the price we would have paid new.

We will often go to one of those sales where an elderly parent has passed away and the adult children are selling the contents of the home. When I walk through those homes I am often struck by all the stuff left behind. I wander through these homes wondering about the person who had passed. Feels strange, looking through all their things.

I'm always struck with the fact that the things we strife for in this life ends up like this. It ends up being just stuff.(ever been to the dump, I get that same feeling) My husband often reminds me that we are temporary residents of our home, someone else will be living in it someday. (he actually tells people it's Gods house, we are just renters) Someone will go through my things...kind of gives you a different kind of perspective on stuff, doesn't it?

I will still enjoy going to yard sales, it's a fun way to spend a Saturday morning. Great way to find bargains and I enjoy using the things I find to decorate my home or add to my eclectic garden. But it's also good to go through one of those homes where someone has passed and be reminded once again that this life is temporary, we will leave all of this behind.

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also  Luke 12:34

Garden "art" that we found at yard sale

Something to Ponder

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose"  Jim Elliott

I heard this quote the other day and it has been resonating with me ever since. What is it that I am trying to hang onto to that I should be giving. This has many applications but in my own life it would be time.

Right now time seems to be a rare commodity and I have to admit I'm not always happy about the fact that it seems to be in such short supply. I want a life of ease and comfort, time to sit and watch the world go by, but is that what I should be seeking? Aren't we called to serve other's, sometimes sacrificially. Investing in the life of others for eternity's sake.

 "Saving faith has feet"  Tullian Tchividjian

There has been more demands on my time lately and I have found myself struggling.  Feeling some resentment at times, and knowing all along that it was wrong. Wanting  a life with few demands, no problems, or  complications...and messy relationships...I'll pass on that one.

But that is not reality and we should live this life with eternity in view. My life is not my own, my time...not my own. I am an ambassador for Christ. Time to get a new perspective, it's not about me... life's complications equal opportunities. The Lord working on my heart...continues to change me through the circumstances of my life. Thankful!

"But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold'  Job 23:10

"Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit to sustain me"
Psalm 51:10