Ten Things I Learned Today

I was reading in my Bible today about an event where Jesus performed an unexpected miracle. In the book of Mark chapter six some interesting discoveries were illuminated.

Jesus and His closest friends had become so famous for their work that people flocked to be around them. Ignoring any sense of time or responsibilities or commitments, people dropped what they were doing in hopes to hear something so meaningful, life changing or profound; or perhaps to experience healings and other miracles.

They were like modern day paparazzi, hungry for a glimpse of some sort of glory.

On one occasion there were thousands…no joke…thousands. The Bible states that there were 5000 men, if you add in women and children…well you get the picture.

Anywhoo…they had followed Jesus to a remote place that Jesus was hoping would be a great place for R&R for His friends. They had just returned from a productive and hectic mission trip and they were exhausted. Unfortunately, the people discovered where they were headed and decided to come along. Maybe you are thinking what I am thinking….how rude, right? It was very presumptuous of these people to think that they had the right to tag along and place pressure on Jesus and His tired friends!

A problem came when they realized that these people had come completely unprepared for the journey. They had no food or provision and now they were in a desolate place with no accessible sustenance.

“Feed them.” Jesus said.

“What? Do you know how much that is going to cost us? Just tell them to go get it themselves. If they leave now surely most of them can get into a neighboring town and buy their own dinner.” This was the paraphrased response from Jesus’ friends.

Here is where it gets interesting….Jesus tells his friends to group the people in groups and seat them in the “green grass”. Then He instructs them to search for any food that might be in the crowd.

So the men do what they were told. Out of all the thousands of people, only 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish were recovered! You probably know the rest of the story….Jesus blesses it and multiplies it to the point that there were leftovers. (My Dutch friends must like that part of the story.) Everyone ate until they were “satisfied”.

What did I discover?

1. Jesus promotes rest.
2. Jesus knows that rest is often interrupted by the desperate and hungry.
3. Jesus knows people come to Him unprepared, but He is always prepared.
4. Jesus wants His followers to trust Him for providing tangible answers for hungry problems.
5. Jesus wants others’ and us to turn to Him before we turn to someone else to meet our needs.
6. Jesus brings order and a sense of calmness when He leads.
7. Jesus knows that miracles cannot be easily seen when a soul is in a state of panic and chaos.
8. Jesus is reassures that He is doing something about our problems.
9. Jesus uses mans’ meager means to perform His miracles.
10. Jesus isn’t afraid to take His time in order to do it right.

Word Pictures

Sometimes words don't come to me but rather images form instead. These are some of my recent works as of late.

lessons from letti....

I got a new dog.

She is sweet, rambunctious and pretty. Her name is Letti.

I’m not new to dogs. In fact I’ve had them my entire life! There was always a dog present in my house growing up and with the exception of one or two in between year’s, I’ve had dogs my entire married life.

So I’m familiar with dogs.

After the last dog I wasn’t sure I really wanted a new dog. To be honest I’m still not sure. I think the reason is that because I know what goes into raising a dog. If you want a well-behaved, nice dog you have to pay your dues during puppy hood!

It’s like having a baby all over again. It’s 24/7, getting up in the middle of the night to let them out, training, picking up…doggie do…dealing with kids and dog, husband and dog, the shoes that were left out in the open and dog. Everything rotates around this dog!

But I said if we were to have another dog we would do it right! The investment has to be made now and so everything really is all about the dog at this point so that someday it won’t have to be all about the dog. You know what I mean?

As I was trying to teach my dog to come on command, for fear she will discover that cars are fun to chase, I realized that this formative time for her requires so much of me. I’m trying to establish a firm foundation for how Letti will “function” in our family, as she gets older.

But there is a price to be paid. I don’t sleep through the night anymore. Now I really do have to sweep and vacuum everyday. I have to crawl under bushes and trees to retrieve my retriever when she digs dirt or just plain won’t come. I have to help her feel comfortable being left for small stretches of time in her crate without her HATING it!

It’s a juggling act!

As I said, I’m not sure I really wanted this again, but to see my family happy makes it ok.

I wonder who is really learning here? Oh I’m making the foundational investment in Letti all right but I think something more is going on.

This process I’m in forces me to have to give up my freedom, sleep and selfish tendencies. This helpless creature needs all of our efforts to keep her happy, healthy and safe.

Letti is teaching me about love in ways that I didn’t know I needed to learn right now. When faced with my own selfishness, anger or frustration I realize how far I have to go in this area of unconditional love.

Yes, I am spending so much time training my puppy but I really wonder who is learning the lesson here?

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” I Corinthians 13:4-8

leaving the mountain....

I am still reading the Old Testament in the Bible. If you read any of my previous posts you might remember that this is a journey I have been on for some time. I’m still in the first section. Still learning about Moses, myself…and yea…God.

I am in the book of Deuteronomy. Moses is nearing the end of his life and recapping for people, the nation of Israel, all that God had done and had commanded for them to do. God’s wisdom and instruction were literally a life-giving plan of His grace and mercy in their lives. Moses begins his recollection by saying, “The LORD our God said to us at Horeb, You have stayed long enough at this mountain. Break camp and advance…’” (Deuteronomy 1:6)

When Israel left Egypt they went into the desert. Trouble followed. Some of their own doing, some things couldn’t be avoided. Each time God delivered. In spite of and through the pain of consequences God delivered. Impossible barriers were overcome miraculously and lives were renewed because God is simply miraculous. After all this, they end up at Mt. Horeb.

A place to stop, regroup, rest.

It was safe here; God spoke to them in wondrous ways…ahhh who would want to leave?But now God says it is time to go.

Again, they turned away from God…had to deal with their mistakes. Again, they found themselves in impossible situations; their faith wavered…well, crumbled at times really…the behaved in ways that showed they were doubtful of who God was and who He said He was…basically they weren’t taking God seriously. But reality set in and once more they were face to face with the ugliness of being separated from freedom, from grace,from mercy, from safety, from contentment.

They didn’t know that they would have to face the truth about themselves on this journey from Mt. Horeb. They didn’t know heir own fears, doubts, jealousy, pride, and disobedience would be exposed and that they would have to do something about it. They didn’t know their flaws actually affected the wellbeing of their families, their economy, their work, their relationships, their future, and their souls. A journey from one place to another exposes the character and heart of the sojourner.

That was leaving the mountain does. It takes you to a new place of revelation

What happened to Israel as they fumbled and flopped after leaving the mountain? Their Faithful God delivered. He delivered because He love them. He loved them by being with them. The journey was not supposed to extinguish life but bring a truthful and saving goodness, peace and prosperity into their experience in place of what they were born into.

The revelation we receive when we leave our Mt. Horeb is not intended to diminish us but rather lead us to a greater revelation and expectation of God because He loves us enough to go with us!

The initial pain of coming to know our flaws, sin or even the consequences that come with bad choices are not designed to make us run back and hide but rather fully face the Truth and receive it and move on. It’s then that a real “promised land” is found.

So what does all this mean to me?

God is still in the business of telling His children when they’ve been on the mountain long enough and it’s time to move on.

Heavenly Invasion

There are moments when Heaven invades earth.

Moments when you are immobile and speechless because of something amazing and beautiful.

Moments when you realize you are not alone and someone bigger and greater than you loves you and is really in control.

Moments when you are embraced by warmth and a sense of being desired and belonging to someone.

Moments when you employ your unique abilities in such a way where others are blessed.

Moments where your needs are met by means other than your own doing.

Moments when you wonder and stand in awe.

Moments when you feel alone but choose to believe you are not alone.

Moments when you realize you have the privilege to choose faith or doubt.

Moments when you realize the price that was paid to give you that choice.

Moments when you are alive with dreaming.

Moments when you sleep sweetly in rest.

Moments when you lay it all down and let it all go knowing there is faithfulness greater than your own.

There are moments when Heaven invades earth.

Sea Glass

I went hunting for sea glass today. I live right by Lake Michigan. I was told from a reliable source that if you walk the shores of the lake in early spring you would find sea glass before the beaches are cleaned.

What is sea glass you might ask? It is broken glass that has been tumbled around by the water and sand over time that eventually ends up on the shoreline. They are like little tiny jewels! I like to think of them as small, colorful treasures that tease my imagination and inspire my soul. Ok, so that may be too deep for some of you but I am a treasure seeker by nature!

With the dawn of each spring I discover something new I want to pursue, learn about, investigate and seek out, all for the purpose of satisfying the creative, innovative side of my personality. In a nutshell, I need to explore something creatively new! This year, I’m drawn to find sea glass. Its’ beauty and mystery intrigue me. In gathering these little creations of the sea (or lake) I realize my desire, no, need, for beauty and all that she has to teach me.

As I walked the beach today I thought about friendships and how they are like sea glass. They can be sparkly and catch your eye when the sun reflects its’ color just at the right time. Friends can come into life just at the right time, bringing with them their beauty and color. They draw the beauty and color out of me when I’m near them.

Sea glass is also illusive. I know I’m just a beginner but I had a hard time finding some today. Sometimes friends are hard to find. I’m left wondering if I’m looking in the right places. At this point in my life, people are so busy. Family life and work life is full, almost boarder line out of control. It doesn’t make it easy to develop friendships.

I asked myself a few questions as I searched this morning. What kind of friend am I? Do I accept my friends right where they are, without sitting in any judgment of them? Do I encourage them enough? Do I listen to their hearts? Do I ask enough caring and thoughtful questions? Do I seek them out, just because they are worth seeking out, not because I need them for something?

The truth is, we are all sea glass. The waves and sand tumble us all around. But a sea glass friend goes through the same turmoil in the water and still ends up on our shoreline, beautifully refined and seasoned, willing to be discovered, willing to be gathered.

I didn’t find any sea glass this morning. But I’m already learning something from my exploration. Treasures do not always come in physical form but in the discoveries of the heart.

love in hard places