Christmas #10 in Sedona!

 

 

  Another Christmas in Sedona.  

 2023 is the end of  a year of laughter, tears, and reflection on my life. My 70th year.

     This past spring, I traveled to Dayton for a family visit. While there, my sister, Debbie, and I made a trip to the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village in Michigan. We had been wanting to do this for years, and it was worth the wait. We spent 4 days exploring all the exhibits, including the Ford Factory, where we watched the F-150 trucks being built. It was fascinating, fun, and a special time together.

   Before returning to Sedona, my mom (now 92) had a serious fall and ended up in the hospital. She was unable to return to her independent living apartment, so we had to find and move her to an assisted living facility where she could get proper care. It was extremely stressful. My dad (now 96), also in assisted living, continues to “hang in there” despite his many health issues. He is amazing, and I am thankful for both of them.

   Mike and I were able to enjoy two road trips. The first one was the North Rim of the Grand Canyon, which we found quite different from the South Rim. Abundantly green, less crowded, much cooler, and more spectacular. Our second trip was to Moab, Utah, and Canyonlands, where we experienced breathtaking views of colorful canyons, mountains, and desert vistas. It was awesome!We plan to return and explore the area in the future. 

   Of course, our princess, Mookie, is #1 in our lives. Now, at 19 months, she is past puppyhood (which we didn’t think we could survive) and is slowly becoming a more obedient girl. She is by far the cutest dog in Sedona, loves going on neighborhood walks, and has her own “window” where she enjoys checking out the world beyond our fenced yard.

    On a serious note, recently, a friend of mine passed away quite unexpectedly. At her funeral, a poem was read that dealt with the shortness of life, like the dash between the dates of birth and death engraved on a tombstone. It made me ponder how I live my “dash.” With love and compassion, or criticism and unforgiveness? Generosity and service, or greed and self-absorption? Peace and harmony, or anxiety and irritation? Faith and trust in the Lord, or living like I am God? There were three truths I came away with. 1. Life is brief; 2. Eternity is real; and 3. Jesus is our only true source of satisfaction. He is the reason for this season.

  I pray that this coming year I give more attention to how I live my “dash.”.

Have a blessed, joy-filled Christmas season.

 

 

 

The Narrow Road.....

 

Matthew 7:13–14  “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. “For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it.

   God’s promise to always be with us does not guarantee an easy life. We often expect God to protect us from harm when we seek to live for Him. If our comfort were God’s primary concern, He would immediately transport us to heaven. So we find ourselves in a world where the majority turn away from Him. Following God requires swimming upstream – living a countercultural life. It means walking the narrow road, entering by the narrow gate.  Speaking for God means proclaiming truth that some people mock and most reject or ignore. How do we continue to stand up for God while facing overwhelming pressure? What if obeying God makes your life harder, not easier? God does not promise to spare His children from trouble, but He faithfully upholds those who put their trust in Him. We may face harsh circumstances, deep suffering, and painful rejection.  Sharing God’s heart means caring more about the spiritual peril of others than personal ease.  We live surrounded by people consumed by this world’s charms and oblivious to the realities of eternity. They walk the broad road that seems easy yet leads to destruction. As we enjoy the incomprehensible benefits of salvation, we must remain alert to the spiritual needs all around us. God calls His children to share His burdens, speak His message, and trust Him with the results.... the narrow way leading to life. From BSF 2023

Made in God's Image...

 

Creation... the earth, the cosmos, mankind.....beautiful.

God’s unique connection to human life emerges clearly in Genesis. “Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness …” (Genesis 1:26). God shares His breath of life with mankind. God’s life and image impart dignity and sacredness to all human life. The entire Bible consistently underscores this truth. Throughout church history, this truth has been captured in the Latin phrase imago Dei, which literally means “image of God.”

The way we relate to God and one another reflects God’s image. Reason, emotion and will are foundational elements of human personality shared with God and other people. God expresses all these perfectly. While human expressions are imperfect, our capacity to relate in all these ways reflects God’s image in us. God’s thoughts are not limited by any flaw, and He balances all interests in absolute perfec­tion. Humans make reasoned decisions and explore the deeper meaning of life. God’s character includes love, joy, hate and peace. God designed people to experience joy and pleasure. We enjoy beauty, delicious food, art, fragrances, music and fine craftsmanship. God demonstrates perfect relationship among the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We yearn for satisfying human relationships.

Every human life holds value beyond the shallow measurements of external beauty, exceptional intellect or astounding accomplishments. Our human longing for identity and significance can only be satisfied when we understand our value to God. Deep within, our hearts long to know the God who knows us. We wrongly idolize many things because God instilled in us a need to worship Him. Finding identity and purpose in anything but God leaves us wanting.

Acknowledging God as the source of human dignity raises our passion to alleviate human suffering. The atrocity of human trafficking, murder, racial injustice, mistreatment of the disabled and elderly, and other social issues gain context when we view people as image-bearers. We can love and accept people not like us because we understand what binds us together as humans created in God’s image. To fail to see God’s imprint on humanity steals the worth and value God intended for all people. Without our life centered on God, we value things more than people and our own comfort over the welfare of others. Recognizing the image of God stamped on humanity changes the way we view ourselves and others.  From BSF Genesis 2020 Notes

Sinful beyond Measure

 

… Sin … a slippery path...

Romans 7:13  Did that which is good, then, bring death to me? By no means! It was sin, producing death in me through what is good, in order that sin might be shown to be sin, and through the commandment might become sinful beyond measure.

  Beware of thinking lightly of sin. At the time of conversion, the conscience is so tender that we are afraid of the slightest sin. Young converts have a holy timidity, a godly fear of offending God. But sadly very soon the fine bloom upon these first ripe fruits is removed by the rough handling of the surrounding world: The sensitive plant of young piety turns into a willow in later life, too pliable, too easily yielding.

  It is sadly true that even a Christian may grow by degrees so callous that the sin that once startled him does not alarm him in the least. By degrees men get familiar with sin. The ear in which the cannon has been booming will not notice slight sounds. At first a little sin startles us; but soon we say, “Is it not a little one?” Then there comes another, larger, and then another, until by degrees we begin to regard sin as but a small matter; and this is followed by an unholy presumption: “We have not fallen into open sin. True, we tripped a little, but we stood upright for the most part. We may have uttered one unholy word, but as for most of our conversation, it has been consistent.” So we toy with sin; we throw a cloak over it; we call it by dainty names.

  Christian, beware of thinking lightly of sin. Take heed in case you slip and fall little by little. Sin a little thing? Is it not a poison? Who knows its deadliness? Sin a little thing? Do not the little foxes spoil the grapes? Doesn’t the tiny coral insect build a rock that wrecks a navy? Do not little strokes fell lofty oaks? Will not continual drippings wear away stones? Sin a little thing? It put a crown of thorns on Jesus’ head and pierced His heart! It made Him suffer anguish, bitterness, and woe. If you could weigh the least sin in the scales of eternity, you would run from it as from a serpent and abhor the slightest appearance of evil.

Look upon all sin as that which crucified the Savior, and you will see it to be “sinful beyond measure.”

Taken from Morning and Evening, written by C. H. Spurgeon

Storms in Life....Dealing with Hardship

  

“When his master saw that the Lord was with him and that the Lord gave him success in everything he did, Joseph found favor in his eyes and became his attendant.” – Genesis 39:3-4a

    Disappointments, suffering, our life "storms" do not define our ultimate destiny. For God’s child, His unseen realities are truer than the pain we may feel. Flawed people, fleeting pleasure and fading hopes should propel us toward God, the only One who can satisfy our deepest longings. Disappointment, pain and even lingering suffering are profitable when yielded to God, who knows and loves us best. Injustice in this world makes us long for His perfect justice. Pain in this world makes us long for eternity, where pain and tears will be abolished. When the "storms" of our life look threatening and promise to break us of spiritually debilitating self-will and pride, will we trust that God is doing something good? When people fail us, will we remember God cannot.

    As humans, we long for resolution. We enjoy movies and entertainment that solve all the suspense and tension in the allotted time. Some of us enjoy googling our questions to receive instant information. We like to see things resolved, and preferably fast. We do not like waiting. Waiting implies dependence on someone or something else to bring an answer or solution we lack and long for. We wait for the doctor because we need the expertise that a professional brings. We wait for needed rain because we are powerless to produce it ourselves. Waiting for God to bring resolution to suffering is perhaps hardest of all.  What are we waiting on God to resolve, or at least help us understand? His plans and purposes far exceed our limited vision and understanding. Can we trust God, even when the answers are few, the pain is deep and the solutions invisible?

   Even for believers, faith falters. In this life, our trust in God is neither complete nor perfect. Sometimes we face the day with bold, decisive faith. Other days, we struggle to believe what we know is true. Do we ever genuinely want to trust God but find a constant pull to focus on the obstacles? God is not shocked by our faltering faith.  What do we do on that hard day when our faith falters and the visible challenges loom large and our "storm" seems headed for destruction? In these moments God Himself stokes the fire of our faith with His strength and power. He calls out faith when we struggle. God lets it be hard here so we will discover He offers more than this fallen world can offer.

Faith is not denying our "storms", but trusting God in the midst of it

The Fall of Mankind

 

“So the Lord God said to the serpent, ‘Because you have done this … I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.’ ”– Genesis 3:14-15

    Something is severely wrong with humanity and the world. Why does it seem I never measure up? Why do I gossip, blame, lie, cheat? Why do I struggle with fear, anger, bitterness, hatred, lust, shame, pride, insecurity? Why do I experience grief and loss? Why do terrorism, murder, human trafficking and racism exist in the world? Why do I constantly think about myself, rather than God and others? Culture boasts that human­ity is basically good. An honest look at myself and the world says otherwise. Let’s face it: The human race has fallen, and left to ourselves, we cannot get up.

  Genesis 3 unveils humanity’s problem – sin. Sin and its consequences invaded the world when Adam and Eve rejected God’s perfect character, love and authority. Evil, suffering and death now pervade life on earth as a result. What can we do? As fallen sinners, we can do nothing. Only God, Creator of the world, has the right and power to redeem what was lost and broken. In this week’s passage, we witness both the devastation of sin and the astonishing display of God’s mercy. While sin’s consequences tragically remain, we are not left without hope. Our eyes eagerly look to the Savior who has come and will come again. 

Sin offends God, destroys all and is inescapable without our Savior Jesus Christ.

Hard Seasons of Life

 

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” – Isaiah 43:2

    Life seems “right” to us when things feel easy. We yearn for happy days and comfortable ways to dominate our lives. Perhaps this internal longing for perfection is rooted in our God-given desire for what only He can provide. Life is often harder than we expect, and certainly more difficult than we prefer. 

   Our challenges come in a steady stream and from many sources. Life in a fallen world brings sickness and suffering. Our own sins and those of others complicate our lives. We face political unrest, relational conflict, and the constancy of change. How do we face the questions that arise within us? Where is God in all of this? What does it mean to follow God amid fallenness and dysfunction? Why does God use what hurts to reveal what matters? How does pain accomplish God’s purposes in our lives? Isn’t there a better way – or at least an easier one?

   God’s purifying purposes for Israel and Judah took them into foreign exile. The Assyrians attacked the northern kingdom of Israel and hauled away the people. The southern kingdom of Judah faced a similar fate when attacked by the Babylonians. Certainly, God’s covenant people failed to honor God and live as He intended. Yet, at this point in the story, we witness God’s chosen people headed into deep suffering by His design.

  How do we hold onto hope when our world crumbles? Our faith in God needs to go beyond glib clichés and easy answers. Our real lives offer an opportunity to trust God in specific, personal ways.

God can be trusted to accomplish His purposes through our pain.

Mookie. A new addition, a new love.

 

1 Corinthians 13:4 Love is patient, love is kind, love does not envy, does not boast......

A new love...

  Mookie is 9 months old now, born in April 2022. We got her home to Sedona when she was a mere nine weeks old and 4 pounds.  So tiny, fragile, cute, and energetic!

   Mike and I have wanted another dog child since Cookie died in 2019. Another Westie...just like Biskit and Cookie my "love children". We are learning that is not reality. Dogs are similar, just as people are similar...but the differences are huge, especially in personality.

   Once the decision was made to get another Westie, I began my search to find a breeder and puppy. Tina, Biskit's breeder led me to Bebe, a Westie breeder in south Texas. I discussed my Westie history with her and we were put on a waiting list. That was in March of 2021. We waited, and waited. Covid happened and we waited some more. Finally we got the call in May of 2022 that a girl pup was available. My adventure began ramping up. A new furry child on the way. Dog beds, treats, toys, food bowls, collars, leashes.....lots of shopping to do. What a frenzy of fun and joy. Yet.....

   Mookie is a stubborn, smart, headstrong girl. Very alpha. Wanting to run the show. I was NOT ready for that.  Biskit and Cookie had worshipped me, obeyed me, loved to be around me. Mookie wanted me to worship her! 

   I have gone thru so many emotions dealing with myself and her.  I am not the young agile person I was 23 years ago when I got Biskit as a puppy. I don't have the patience, fortitude and drive to deal with a rebellious pup.

How many times have I just wished her gone so that I could be free of the daily drill of disciplining, training, and simply dealing with her rebellious nature. That is shameful.

  The Lord is using Mookie to teach me about myself. My strengths and weaknesses. These lessons boil over to other areas of my life. I see my selfishness. My desire to have things my way, not wanting to put in all the effort to love her for the puppy she is. Maybe that is the way it is with other relationships in my life. Wanting Mike to meet my expectations. Getting frustrated when things don't go my way with my sister Debbie and friend Bobbi, my Mom and Dad. Do I really love them? I continue to lean on the Lord to guide me in these areas where I need His transforming power to give me the true love and patience I desire. I fall on my knees when I remember the rebel I was, yet He graciously pulled me to Himself, opened my eyes to His truth and saved me....from myself. 

   Little Mookie...a tool for my transformation...