White trees…
Mark 4:39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
Nothing calms me like the sight of a White Tree. Frozen in time, peaceful, and welcoming. The sight of them calm me and remind me of the rest we have in Christ. The time to just be. A white tree doesn’t sway in the wind. It doesn’t produce anything. It just is. It is peaceful, resting, renewing, waiting for it’s time to produce again.
We need that time too. We need that time to rest, renew, and prepare to produce.
Whale Wars
"You have not lived until you've found something worth dying for."
The other night I watched “Whale Wars” on Animal Planet. It was an interesting show. I saw the preview and I like whales and other sea animals so I recorded it to watch. The premise of the show is a group of animal (specifically whale) activists are patrolling Antarctica looking for whaling ships. They call themselves “modern day pirates”. They truly are that.
The show I watched was the first episode in a series. The talked with some of the crew members and one lady came to tears she’s so passionate about saving the whales. They also interviewed some of the crew members and everyone they talked to said they are willing to literally DIE for the whales. I admire their passion and commitment to the whales.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I like whales. I understand they are a very important to the balance of sea life and the ocean is important for the balance of the earth.
However, this world is temporary. As I sat watching the passion in the eyes of these “pirates” I wondered how many of us have that same passion for Christ. Our eternal life is so much more important that this life. Our eternal life is what we should be living for. Are we?
Are you brought to tears in your passion for saving human souls? Are you willing to DIE to stand up for Christ?
There are people out there willing to die for an animal. That really made me stop and think. When eternity is so much more important than this temporary life what I am doing to insure that those around me know the saving grace of Jesus Christ.
Here I am, Send Me
I wrote this a couple years ago. I’ll discuss it later but I wanted to get your input first. What do you think? Do you have any thoughts when you read this? You can send it to me privately if you want to remain anonymous by clicking on the Email Me button to the right.
Here I Am, Send Me
You walk each day one step at a time
Minute by minute life goes on
People come and people go
They don’t see you
They don’t know.
Then the world comes crashing down
You dig your hole
You lie in wait
Darkness begs, you plead, you cry
Through your tears you can not hear
The quite voice pleading still
Here I Am, Seek Me.
Quietly you sit and sob
No one cares, no one calls
Do they see me? Do they know?
Will they care? Will they call?
Banging, hurting, crying
Still one small voice is pleading
Here I Am, Seek Me.
Walls surround in cold stark white
People crying, running, moaning
Do they know? Do they care?
Is this the life you’re set to live?
Never knowing, needing help
Crying, sobbing, banging, hurting
Digging deeper
Tuning out you can not hear
That quiet voice always saying
Here I Am, Seek Me.
Quietly you sit and listen
Hope is given, work is needed
Do you want to see the light?
Slowly struggling, fighting, working
Tears are shed and wiped away
Hands are held and hugs are given
Standing near the deep, dark hole
Quietly you listen
Still you can not hear
Here I Am, Seek Me.
People come and stay a while
Touching, caring, helping, teaching
Slowly you erase away
Years of pain, confusion, hatred
In its place you start to see
Someone new, never known
Quietly you hear the pleading
Here I Am, Seek Me
People all around you question
Pushing, prodding
Trying to change you
They don’t like the new found you
Growing, seeking, praying, singing
Loudly you proclaim
Here I Am, Send Me.
Singleness
Good morning, how’s your coffee today? Mine is a light Millstone ground Caramel Truffle with a splash of Dolce de Leche creamer. Yummy.
I subscribe to Today’s Christian Woman, which is a great magazine if you’re interested. This month they have a special section on Singleness. There is one article in there that I seriously want to copy and give to every single person I know.
My single friends will find a great deal from it as the author discusses some of the myths many Christian singles face each day. My married friends will find this useful in dealing with their single friends and maybe know what not to say. I know my married and single friends mean well when they say many of these things to me but sometimes it’s not helpful.
Myth #1: Since the Bible says God is our husband (Isaiah 54:5; Jeremiah 3:14), an earthly spouse isn’t really necessary.1
OK, this myth isn’t one I really struggle with. I don’t have many people telling me this and it’s not a huge burden for me. But, to touch on this God designed us to be in relationships. From the beginning of time he created Man and Woman, Adam and Eve because he wanted us to be in relationship to have a helpmate. Genesis 2:20-24
Myth #2: Since, according to the apostle Paul, singleness is a desirable gift (1 Corinthians 7), spiritually mature single Christian women should fully - and joyfully - embrace it.1
This is something that I hear occassionally from some of my single friends. While it’s true that there are some “gifts” to being single. It’s also important to read this in it’s true context. Yes, Paul was single, but when this was written he was going through a lot. (Not just some simple “life’s tough stuff”, really true, intense persecution.) In that time he could honestly say “thank goodness it’s just me dealing with this. But, also look at the passage…Paul talks about it being good to marry. Again, though, God calls us to be in relationships. Marriage was and is God’s design for our lives. So, beings joyful in your singleness isn’t a matter of spiritually maturity. It’s really a matter of living your life accepting what God has planned for you.
Now, on the opposite side, I do embrace my singleness at this time in my life. For many of my married friends they take this as giving up or saying that God desires for me to live out my life single. I’m not sure what the future holds, I just know that this is where God has me now and I embrace THAT.
Myth #3: Since God promises us the desires of our heart (Psalm 37:4), he’ll give a husband to a woman who truly desires one.1
This is one I get a lot. Yes, God does take care of us. Yes, God does provide things for us. But, God’s way is right. He’s infinitely wiser than I am (thank goodness) and he knows what is best for me. So, while yes, it is a desire of my heart to have a husband I also accept that God knows what he’s doing in not providing one for me (ever or just yet). Can God take that desire away if he wants to? Yes. But, maybe he doesn’t want to? Maybe it’s his desire that this desire stay on my heart. Maybe he’ll fulfill it down the road, or maybe he won’t. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Psalm 3:5-6.” The point is to trust the Lord to provide what you need whether that is companionship through a spouse or the comfort of friends when that’s not what he provides even though we don’t understand WHY.
Looking back over my life and I can clearly see points in the past where I so strongly desired a life-mate. Now, looking back, I can also see that those times when God did not answer my heart’s desire it was in my best interest. I wasn’t in a place personally, emotionally, and/or spiritually to make a choice for a life partner. God watched out for me there and he took care of it. At the time I couldn’t see it but now I can and I thank him for protecting me.
Myth #4: Since the Bible says we’re to be content in all circumstances (Hebrews 13:5; 1 Timothy 6:6-8), God won’t provide singles with a mate until they’re totally satisfied with singleness.1
Here’s another one that drives me crazy. God hasn’t NOT provided me a mate because I’m not content with my circumstance. I know that. He’s ways are greater (and wiser) than my ways. It’s also not “giving up” if I admit that I am satisfied with my singleness.
I haven’t given up on finding a husband. I haven’t given up on myself as a suitable mate for someone else. I also am not dissatisfied with God for not taking care of this desire of mine. Truth is, I trust the Lord to take care of me. No, it’s not always the way I would write that particular chapter in my life but you know what, he hasn’t screwed up yet! So, this is one other thing I’ve long since handed over to him. Am I always happy with how He handles it? Truthfully, no. But, even in those times I still trust that he’s doing what’s in my best interest and whether he has a mate for me or not it’s OK.
You can read the full article written by Lisa Harper here: Singleness and Scripture, this is just my take on it.
1Harper, Lisa. “Singleness and Scripture“. Today’s Christian Woman May/June 2008: 43-44
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