Wordless Wednesday

Goodbye Poppy

I just got off the phone with my brother. His wife's father passed away last night.

Death is never an easy thing. Though, hearing how sweet his passage was made me cry. And knowing my sister-in-law will miss her daddy makes me cry. And my brother and his daughters will miss him too.

But even as those who loved Poppy will miss him and shed tears, their tears are not without hope. In the first book of Thessalonians, Paul talks about grieving, but not like men without hope. If you believe this life is all that exists and life ends at the grave, then you mourn and grieve without hope.

But there is hope. Heaven is waiting for us. Poppy is there now, no longer suffering, dancing before God. How do I know this? Poppy didn't earn it. He didn't live a perfect life. He sinned just like the rest of us. But he humbled himself before God and asked for forgiveness. And because Jesus died in our place, God forgave him. All Poppy had to do was ask for forgiveness and accept Jesus' payment. That's all any of us need to do. Simple. Yet hard. You have to humble yourself. Admit you are wrong, a sinner. Then ask for God's forgiveness.

But the peace that comes when you are forgiven is amazing. And the hope of being in God's loving presence for eternity gives you strength in this life. 

Poppy, many will miss you. But we rejoice that you are no longer in pain and that you are with your Father.

Of Waterfalls and Beauty

 I love a good waterfall. Any amount of water will do.  The waterfall itself doesn't have to be large. Even a small fall of only inches can be both beautiful and soothing.

Sometimes I catch a glimpse of a waterfall. It makes me long to see more. So, after a hike and wading out into the cold river, I'm rewarded with a gorgeous shot.

It takes time to appreciate the majesty of most falls. We tend to hurry in to see them, snap some shots and head for the next one. But when you get beneath one and hear the roar, feel the mist and see how powerful it is, the experience can be quite profound. You have a chance to appreciate the constancy of the falls and the power of the water to smooth down the rocks. Like anything in life, getting to see true beauty and experience wonder requires some effort on our part.

And, like life, what is beautiful can't be defined. I saw this waterfall near Chimney Rock, NC. I'll never be able to get close to it. The falls are so high and there is no simple path to get there. So I appreciate it for what it is.

From a distance.

Yet I know it's beautiful as I watch it from afar.

In life, we need to learn that in God works in us through the strong storms and rushing waters. Making us smooth. Showing His hand in our lives. I often fail at being thankful in my times of difficulty.

But I'm learning.

Slowly.

And I hope that others are able to see God's hand in my life, reflecting Him. 

And I hope that you too, will step back and watch for Him working in your life to make you a reflection of his Son.

Goodbye Christmas

Sand and Struggles

Several years ago, life took a toll on me. I had five kids under the age of ten, had moved to a new house and had a husband who was working long, long hours. My husband had so much stress from work that I tried to be his helper and take care of everything so he wouldn’t have to. Insurance, car repairs, home schooling. You name it, I did it. Then throw in health issues for me and what happened? I grew exhausted.

I felt like I was trying to climb a mountain made of sand. Three steps forward, one slide back. The wind whipping around, stinging my face. Legs crying out for relief. But I had to keep going.

At times like that, the inclination is to feel so alone. Isolated. I did.

We tend to focus on ourselves and forget God's eternal perspective. But if we stop and take a look around, we can see other footprints. Footprints of those who have climbed the same hill. We can be honest and humble about our struggles and ask for help—help from others who have made the same journey. We can learn from their mistakes. They can step into our lives and encourage us that we will make it to the top and that the reward is worth it.

But, ultimately, we need to seek help from the One who promises not to forsake us. It may feel like God abandons us in the hardest times of our lives, but sometimes that’s because we don’t understand what that promise means. I certainly know I’ve been guilty of feeling forsaken when times are hard. But that’s a shallow, self-centered view of God—what can He do for me?

I’m learning that the difficulties and struggles are the times when I can grow the most in my faith and see God’s hand at work more clearly. Unfortunately, I want comfort and ease. But nowhere in the bible does God promise a pain free life. He tells us that we will have trials and tribulations. Can we trust him to walk with us in those times? Yes. But that’s not natural. We need to ask for faith to believe. And we can learn so much about listening to him and looking for how he’s working in and around us.

And once he helps us conquer the obstacles and struggles, there is often a great reward he has waiting for us. New friendships, more faith, a deeper walk with him. The ability to seek out and comfort others who come behind us. That’s what living in fellowship with each other is all about.  

 

So where are you in your journey? Ask God to send you help and ask him to show you how to live strong through the trials. And when he gets you through them, you can celebrate how God has worked.

Wordless Wednesday

Wordless Wednesday

In Honor of My Dad's 87th Birthday

Today I have the distinct honor of sharing with you a message my mom Carolyn wrote about my dad Jim for his 87th birthday. May you be blessed by this as much as I have been. Mary

In Honor of Jim’s 87^th Birthday

By Carolyn Freeman

Jim never brought me diamonds, rubies, and pearls. Instead he brought the priceless jewels of integrity, wisdom, loyalty, steadfastness, faithfulness, stability, and faith.

Jim never carried me to a spa/resort. Instead he bathed me in his love, he soothed me with his comfort, and he massaged away the hurts and pains of my life.

Jim never encouraged me to adorn myself with fine clothes and the latest in beauty products. Instead he clothed me with acceptance and encouragement and sought my inner beauty.

Jim never bought me a luxurious car to preen in. Instead he looked for safety and dependability.

Jim never built me a fine mansion with fine furnishings. Instead he surrounded me with the solid walls of simplicity and freedom from pride.

Jim never used flowery words and fancy phrases to express his love.  Instead he conveyed the essence of true love by his whole existence.

Jim never sought recognition for a life of quiet devotion and quiet service. Instead he kept his eyes on the needs of others and gave himself to meeting them.

God brought blessings to me, his family, and many by providing us the gift of a Godly man to head our family.  We are eternally grateful.

Mom and Dad watching a sunset.

Eating North Carolina BBQ and listening to live Blue Grass.

   

Grow Where You're Planted

I'll be the first to admit I like comfort. I like a soft bed, nice surroundings in my home and things like clean water. In the winter, I don't like to be cold and in the summer, yes, I like air conditioning. My definition of the good life is when things are going my way. But as a Christian, is that what God promises? No. He promises many things, but a simple, comfortable life is not one of them.

Paul, who murdered Christians before he became one, spent his life telling others of Jesus. There were times of prosperity and there were times of persecution and much suffering. He lived the last years of his life in jail, awaiting his trial. But listen to what he says.

Philippians 4:11 NASB
¹¹ Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. 

Paul had learned the secret of growing where he was planted. (Read that: where God planted him.)

So what does that look like? Well, here's what I want it to look like. 

I want to have a constant source of clean, cool water. I want to hear the wonderful noise of crickets, frogs and birds.

I want to feel the warm rays of the sun as it rises over the mountains.

But let's be honest. Sometimes this is what life feels like. Like we're drowning.

We may be surrounded by problems: emotional, physical, financial, spiritual.

And we may not see a way out and so we feel hopeless.

Or, this could sum up our life. We're growing in a little patch of dirt in the middle of concrete and hardness. And not only that, but we're right next to the air conditioning units.

We have to listen to their noise and feel the heat they put off. As if being sun-baked isn't enough.

But yet, there that tree is. And doing fairly well. Nice green leaves. Sturdy trunk. Protected from strong winds. 





And what about the crazy tree in this photo? Yes, that is a tree, hundreds of feet up in the air atop and abandoned smoke stack.

Why did it grow there? Because that's where it was planted. 

Are you getting the picture? God has planted you where He wants you to grow.

Maybe you're in a season of plenty. Maybe not.

Instead of asking God to remove the difficult circumstances you find yourself in, ask God to help you grow well where He planted you. Ask Him for the nourishment you need in your specific challenges.

He is where your contentment and strength comes from.

Ask Him to help you live close to Him, especially in the difficult times, to be content in Him. Ask Him to help you grow where He planted you.