Put That in Writing

When people ask us to "put that in writing," they're interested in the documentation for future reference. Documents like marriage and birth certificates, deeds, and titles have carried legal weight for centuries.

I used to be interested in ephemera, or paper goods. I collected old calendars, valentines, greeting cards, photographs, postcards, and advertising items. It was fun to read old messages and analyze artistic styles.

Old cards and postcards showed the receiver valued the message enough to save it. I doubt they thought about a finder like me enjoying a peek into their past years later.

Now I'm more into collecting books. In fact, while going through my files this week, I found a well-worn storybook from my childhood.

Books Can Give Long-term Satisfaction 

I also had a favorite childhood Bible storybook. But as I got older, I chose to read the Bible itself. Even in King James English, I found it full of adventure, love, mysteries, and promise.

Now I enjoy the Bible in modern English, but the bottom line, for me, is still the same. It's the wonder of God wanting us to know Him so well that He put things in writing.

Most anyone can tell you the danger of written messages these days. Even a casual Email or Facebook posting can be used against you forever.

Rest assured God's written communication was not casual. In fact, He was so purposeful about it that He declared it would not return to Him empty. Instead, it would accomplish what He desired, achieving the purpose for which He sent it (Isaiah 55:11).

Theologians and historians have plenty of documentation about how the Bible was written, but its real value is in how it helps us connect with God.

There's nothing top-secret about the Bible. God wants us to know Him and He put it in writing.

All we have to do is read it. Then when something speaks to our heart we can talk to Him about it. 

Two-way communication can be very satisfying.

Are You Sheltering or Isolating?

Cities, Villages, Townships Were All Affected

Shelter in Place was one of the first directives for dealing with Covid-19. What a challenge! The economy took a big hit as all segments of society were affected.

A friend, whose church was closed, had a sign in her front yard: Sheltered by Grace. That was a very encouraging message. Grace has always been explained to me as God’s unmerited favor.

In other words, God will hear my prayers because of who HE is, not because of any goodness on my part. In fact, 1 Peter 5:7 (NIV) says, “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.”

My church was open, closed, then opened again. The services are streamed online. So far, I have not felt it’s time for me to return. While sheltering in place, however, I am not isolated from my fellow believers or my fiscal responsibility.

Communication Beats Isolation, For Sure

To isolate would be to remain alone, making no attempt to connect with others. Why do that when I can easily text, call, or email? I’ve also kept the post office busy with some cards, letters, and packages.

The nice thing is that others have connected with me in those ways, too.

A gathering for me just now is one person at a time. The other day I met a friend at a restaurant where they practiced social distancing, limited seating, and servers wore masks.

A couple of weeks ago I met a friend for a picnic. I said, “Would you like to take communion together before we leave?” She said, “Yes! Where two or three are gathered, right?”

What a great response! We read scripture and prayed over the bread and grape juice as if we were in church. She said she felt encouraged, and so did I.

I Can Make A Difference, But How?

Avoid isolation. Think about the advice in Hebrews 10:24 (NKJV):

         Let us consider (think about) one another

         in order to stir up (get ourselves into action, then others)

         to love and good works.

There’s as much freedom and variety in that as there are people.

The Power of Little Things

Sometimes We Have To Look For Positive Things

In these days of turmoil, little things can easily go unnoticed. Think about your life in the last forty-eight hours. Are there any little things that have given you a lift, a positive attitude, or a smile?

For me, it would be lunch with a friend . . . sweet dark cherries on sale at my favorite grocer . . . and a long telephone visit with a friend far away.

I have friends who think it’s a little thing to sew face masks to help people deal with COVID-19. As for me, it’s a little thing to actually wear a mask if it will have a positive impact on our economy.

One thing that made me smile this week was banana bread. It’s a favorite of one of our neighbors, and I like to bake. I carefully followed a new recipe but the loaf felt heavy. The neighbor said it tasted great, but I nicknamed it the “banana brick.”

Thumbs Up For The Tongue

When talking about the power of little things, we can’t forget our tongue. What a marvelous body part! It helps us taste, which is a pleasure, and it helps us talk. It’s amazing how the tongue helps form words for every language in the world.

James points out the power of little things: 1) a small bit in a horse’s mouth controls the whole animal, and 2) a small rudder can set the course of a great ship. Unfortunately, there is no such control for our tongue (James 3:3-10).

In this passage, The Message points out some areas of caution:

By our speech we can

ruin the world,

turn harmony into chaos,

throw mud on a reputation,

send the whole world up in smoke . . .

Add some volume to your voice and your tongue can do even more damage. 

Be alert! Use your tongue powerfully for good things.

The Importance of Being Civil

Cities Are Civilized By People

People, whether highly educated or not, can still be civil. It is not a play on words to say that being civil is an important part of civilization.

To be civil, in all cultures, is to move beyond a primitive self-absorbed, me-first mentality.

Civilized people create positive cultural climates. Their basic respect for all people, enables them to interact with all levels of society. Courtesy and politeness are shown by personal choice, not social pressure.

They are not always on edge to remember rules of etiquette. Their brand of civility means relating to others through inner thoughtfulness and consideration.

An Angry Crowd Is Like A Cyclone

Lack of civility becomes quite obvious. Rioting in the streets and random destruction of property show a lack of thoughtfulness, courtesy, and respect.

An angry crowd can burn up a lot of energy. It also cancels personal choice because it does not leave time for inner thoughtfulness.

But the word “random” brings up a great reminder of how to be civil.

Random Acts of Kindness (RAK) is a great concept. Search the web and you’ll find it was launched in 1995. In fact, RAK Week seems to land in February. But do we have to wait for a special week?

Simply put, random acts of kindness are thoughtful, spontaneous, and unpredictable. Reader’s Digest* had some wonderful examples.

Here’s my favorite: A three-year-old was begging for gummy treats in a store. The mom was doing her best to explain that daddy had lost his job and they could not afford any treats.

A stranger walked up and said, “You dropped this,” and handed her a fifty-dollar bill.

A random act of kindness . . . civil, thoughtful, polite, and spontaneous.

Small Things Are Important

You don’t have to be an adult to be kind. As a child, I learned Be ye kind one to another (Ephesians 4:32 (KJV). Mom taught the concept through both her words and deeds.

Be civil. Be kind. You may feel like a raindrop in the desert, but a tiny seed of hope might grow in someone from what you do.

*Reader's Digest, February 2020, pp. 82-87, Inspiration, Kindness: Pass It On!

Three Important Personal Things

Provision: Green Pastures and Still Water

A couple of weeks ago my blog was titled Quiet Restoration. I shared the relaxing picture of sheep being led to rest in green pastures and beside quiet waters (Psalm 23:2). It was such a great contrast to rushing waterfalls and fields full of weeds.

In writing Quiet Restoration, it didn't feel complete until I included the start of verse 3: He restores my soul.

The next morning, my waking thought was He restores my soul! I've never really thought much about that. I'd like to learn more. So, I set out on a quest: My soul . . . what is it?

Joyce Meyer, in her Everyday Life Bible, made a comment that really stuck with me: "We are a spirit, we have a soul, and we live in a body."*

Her commentary on Psalm 23 got my attention with this line: "The soul is comprised of the mind, the will, and the emotions."** Think about it. Would you be a whole person if one of these was missing?

Water Can Restore Green to Dry Places

The phrase He restores my soul began to take meaningful shape for me. 

Being married to a guy who loved car shows, I was quite familiar with restoration. Some owners included pictures of their awesome autos as "junkers" before they were restored.

What I found interesting was my own need for restoration. I'm usually an "up" person, so I couldn't miss the fact that this week I was noticeably "down."

Three things were clamoring for attention: 1) Negative feelings, 2) negative thoughts, and 3) my personal decision on how to handle them.

The choice was mine. God did not create us as robots, and He cares about every part of us . . . body, soul, and spirit.

After the Storm, A Rainbow of Hope

Are you feeling out of sorts, confused, or disappointed by life? Do you feel a need for restoration . .  a way to get back to the positive side of things?

That was me. I read Psalm 23 and asked the LORD to restore my soul. I later realized my "downers" were gone.

He'll do it for you, too. Just ask.

*The Everyday Life Bible (Amplified Version), Joyce Meyer, Faith Words, NY, NY, 1 Thessalonians 5:23, Life Point, p. 1984.

**The Everyday Life Bible (as above), Psalm 23, God Restores and Leads, p. 835. 

Quiet Restoration

Still Waters Look Inviting

Dad and I used to joke around with an old cliche. I'd say, "Still waters run deep." He'd laugh and say, "Cold, too."

We had some great discussions about spirituality, and I'm thankful for that heritage.

My version of still water has changed over the years. As a teenager, I enjoyed meditating on some Bible verses before going to sleep.

I still do that, but I also have found time to enjoy deeper waters with a study Bible in the morning. Study Bibles* have a variety of help to make things clearer.

Fog Cannot Upset Calm Waters

There have been times when I wandered away from still waters and got lost in the bubbling shallow waters of rocky times.

But as I stayed near the river, I found my way back to the spiritually refreshing quiet waters.

Psalm 23 is a good example. It starts out beautifully: The Lord is my Shepherd . . . He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul.

One summer we visited Niagara Falls. It was amazing to walk under the rushing waters, but so impossible to relax. Deafening noise and wet slippery walkways threatened personal safety.

I prefer quiet waters. In the heart of our town, there's a small creek I enjoy checking out after a rain.

That's when it's easiest to enjoy the reflection of blue sky and white clouds. I may be looking down, but through the reflection, I'm also looking up.

That's the way it is when I read my Bible. I read by looking down. But while reflecting on what I've read, I'm looking up.

The Peace of Green Pastures & Still Waters

Life has a way of wearing us down. We need a quiet restoration regularly. Why wait? Start today.

Sit yourself down by the quiet waters of Psalm 23. Read and reflect on what the Good Shepherd can do for you. 

*Two of my long-time favorite study Bibles: Life Application Study Bible (NLT), Tyndale House; Spirit-Filled Life Study Bible for Students (NKJV), Thomas Nelson Publishers. 

Shadows Vs. Light

Light and Shadow Create Beauty

Shadows are created when something blocks the light. For example, I once lived in a flat desert area, but never saw the sunrise. The mountains to the east created shadows to start my day.

Now I never see the sunset. Houses on the hill above me create shadows as the sun goes down. It's a blessing, though, because it enables me to enjoy my deck in the late afternoon.

I'm now dealing with a different type of shadow, and so are you. We understand the routine of sunrise and sunset. But COVID-19 feels erratic and seems to constantly loom over us.

It's unlike the welcoming shadow of a shade tree on a hot summer's day. It's more the sinister variety, an unknown threat.

Does This Look Like a Heart?

Shadows can sometimes be fun. Have you ever tried shaping your hands and fingers to create animal shadows? Children are intrigued by that and want to try it, too.

The problem is that this pandemic shadow is scary, and not entertaining. We want it to be gone from the world, yet such power is not ours. It's more of an individual thing.

It's no secret---when light meets dark, light wins! At bedtime, a child afraid of the dark gives the solution: "Leave the light on."

There is light available for our darkness, too. The Psalmist declared God's word was a lamp to his feet and a light to his path (Psalm 119:105). Light is good, but it must be activated.

Action, Not Explanation, Required

You don't have to understand how electricity works. You just turn on your lamp and darkness leaves. It's the same with God's word.

The Bible is a lamp to our challenging shadows. Turn that lamp on by reading it. There's a lot of wisdom in Proverbs, for example.

Your cell phone has a Bible app called the You Version. There are others. The key is to take action! 

Shine the light of God's word into the shadows of your life. Enjoy the difference it makes.