Remembering Him

Arms that cradle, calming fears. Hands that hold, wiping tears. Lips that kiss, voicing cheers. As I freely give love to my daughters, I realize that these days will be forgotten by them. They will not remember the constant care and concern from their mother and father in the early days of their lives. How much have I forgotten of the love that has been shown to me by my Father? He created my inmost being and knit me together in my mother's womb. Before He even formed me, He knew me. He has kept my heart beating and supplies every breath that I breathe. He saved me, opening my eyes and ears to His Truth. Oh, Lord, I have forgotten much. May I remember the wondrous works You have done and the whole way that You have led me. May I remember You, keeping Your commands, walking in Your ways, and fearing You, for You have brought me, Lord. You have brought me. (Deuteronomy 8)

Delightful Delicacy

If my calculations are correct, tonight will mark the eighth time I've read through the Bible. Impossible, I thought, years ago when we embarked upon a plan to complete it during a discipleship course called Master Life. Many failed attempts followed. But somewhere along the line of my life, I began to make progress, and what had seemed to be choking became instead gasping. Oh, it's life! It's food! I must have it! Just as we wouldn't think of going a day without remembering to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner, we find that we can't make it through those same twenty-four hours without feasting on the most phenomenal words that have ever been written. Start savoring His supply, and you'll always want to come back for more.

Baby Jesus

On Christmas morning, I hurried down the stairs with a nativity that I wanted to set up on a table before we got the girls out of bed. I carefully placed Joseph, Mary, three wise men, a camel and two sheep around the focal point, baby Jesus. Then, John came in the room carrying the huge box that held a Radio Flyer wagon, and he set it down right next to the table. Covered in a variety of wrapping paper and topped with ribbon and bow, it seemed to scream, "Look at me; look at me!" It was time. We opened the door to the girls' bedroom, and as we like to lovingly say, "set the captives free." "Come see what Mommy and Daddy got you to celebrate Jesus' birthday," we exclaimed with enthusiasm. Jesse ran into the room and was instantly captivated. By baby Jesus. And Joseph and Mary. And the wise men and camel. Even the two sheep. It took a while, but eventually we got her to open the box. Oh, Lord, how my heart longs for these girls to be ever so captivated with You. May it be so, forever.

Falling Short

She's a bit rough around the edges. Foul language. Poor parenting skills. Secular worldview. And such were some of you. She doesn't know the right words to say to fit in or the right convictions to hold to be held in high esteem. And such were some of you. She doesn't try to pretend to be something she's not and that can result in an uncomfortable silence in a group where everyone knows how to act. And such were some of you. And, in all honesty, I grow quite uncomfortable myself. Until I remember, and such were I. Help us, Lord, to remember that before we were washed, before we were sanctified, before we were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, such were all of us. (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)

Special Treats

Amidst the mayhem of Thanksgiving morning, we paused to thank the Lord for all that He has done for us this year. I started a new tradition of having each person present write down in a journal at least one of the things that they were thinking about. Since two-year old Jesse hasn't quite grasped the concept of penmanship, I asked her, "Jesse, what are you thankful for?" Ready to record whatever she might say, I listened intently, yet not really expecting a reply. Slowly, she began. "I'm thankful for..." Pause. "I'm thankful for..." Pause. "I'm thankful for...special treats." My surprise that she had heard me and understood me could not be contained! Special treats are what we call candy, cake, cookies, ice cream, and just about anything else that we know will bring glee to our little girl. So she knows, I thought, that these are the things she's thankful for; she understands that these are things that bring her little heart delight. And, I began praying fervently that the Lord in His saving grace would begin to transform her special treats from the fleeting joy of food to the everlasting joy of making much of Him.

Watched Pot

Oh, no! Not again! Almost every day I put a 2-quart pot of water on the stove to make iced tea. When the water comes to a boil, I add seven tea bags, let it steep for a few hours, and then I add a cup of sugar. Ahhh. Our favorite drink. In the time it takes the water to boil, I often convince myself that I can get some other things done about the house and still remember to come back to put the tea bags in. And yet, I don't always remember. Many times when I return, the water has almost boiled away, and at least four times, I've returned to find a completely blackened pot. (By God's grace, I haven't burned the house down!) How can I continue to make this dangerous mistake? Because of my stubbornness to believe that this time I won't forget. Too often, we can be this same way with our belief that we don't need God and His Word to live the Christian life. "Oh, I know what the Bible says; I've read it before," we mutter to ourselves. "I'll remember." No, just like my boiling water requires my immediate attention, so our souls need constant care. "With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments!" (Psalm 119:10)

Windy Conditions

Listening to the wind whip through the willow oaks outside my window, I begin to grow tense. What if one of those towering trees topples right onto our roof? "Preach truth to yourself," I say in response to my fears. Do not be anxious about anything. Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Cast your cares upon Him. You are in no greater danger right now than you were when the sun was shining and the winds were at rest. The Lord holds me in the palm of His hand, and not even a sparrow will fall to the ground apart from His will. As the storm outside rages on, the storm inside grows calm.