When Shattered is Good

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I’ve always been fascinated by kaleidoscopes. When I was a little girl my grandma had one in the toy box. I still remember it was made out of a cardboard tube with a tin top and hazy plastic bottom.  Not much to look at, but out of all the toys in the box, it was my favorite. Back then, I didn’t know how a kaleidoscope worked; I just knew that it did.

Last fall at the annual ArtPrize event in Grand Rapids, Michigan, I saw a life-size kaleidoscope.  You know what?  I was still fascinated.  I had the opportunity to talk to the artist about his quest to find the perfect ingredients to craft his object for ArtPrize. Did you know the makeup of a kaleidoscope is from very basic materials? A tube, a few mirrors, some glass and plastic – nothing remarkable. Nothing remarkable. Does this sound familiar?  That’s me. That’s us. Don’t we feel like that sometimes?

We feel a little like that tube, all shiny on the outside, but pretty hollow on the inside. Sometimes we’re shattered by the circumstances we’re living with and are exhausted in trying to figure out how to get through the maze. Inside the tube, it’s dark. The remnants of shattered glass are everywhere. There are mirrors, but in this position they reflect nothing.  Let’s work on that. We are like a kaleidoscope in the making. All the ingredients are there; now we need the Master builder to perform His work in us. Jesus said in John 8:12 “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

Like the kaleidoscope our lives are a potpourri of events, decisions, activities, and situations.  Some of them are exciting, others are bursting with happiness, we love those times and grasp them firmly in our memories.  Then there are broken dreams, shattered opportunities and we want to forget they ever happened.  Did you know God uses all of that – the good and the sorrowful – to make our lives beautiful and significant? The key is in our positioning.  We have to get into the place where the Light of the World enters the dark, hollow tube and reflects off the mirrors of our hearts.  All those fragmented pieces of glass, those times when we feel shattered, point them to the light and turn the filter while they fall into a beautiful design. The colors change and illuminate in patterns, each one unique, each one beautiful. Your life is unique and beautiful. All those broken toys, all those shattered plans, give them all to Jesus. He is the Light of the World and will make your life beautiful.

The kaleidoscope – unremarkable.  But when the position is just right, the light comes in, reflects off the mirrors, and the shards of glass illuminate with unique beauty.  I agree with David.  Psalm 40:8
I desire to do your will, my God; your law is within my heart.

The sun is rising on a new day.  Yesterday in one of his many life enhancing truisms, our pastor quoted Colossians 3:17  ”And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks
to God the Father through him.”  Today I’m thankful for hope through the good and bad, the ups and downs of how life happens. I’m thankful for light in a dark world. Now hand me that Kaleidoscope!

What’s up with Sunday?

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I woke up this morning with this pouring from my heart:   Lord Jesus, I long to be perfectly whole; I want Thee forever to live in my soul; Break down every idol, cast out every foe; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.  Lord Jesus, look down from Thy throne in the skies, And help me to make a complete sacrifice; I give up myself, and whatever I know; Now wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Words by James Nicholson, 1872 (1828-1876)/ Music by William G. Fischer (1835-1912)
This song talks about idols ; not the kind we prop up in plain sight and bow down to, but things that get in the way of our relationship with God.

Ezekiel 20:19 “I am the Lord your God; follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.”  We are no longer under the strict laws of the Old Testament, but we are still implored to live a lifestyle that pleases God.  Exodus 20:3 “You shall have no other gods before me.”  I have no gold, silver, bronze, or ornate wooden object that doubles as a god, but I have habits and things that I often put ahead of my time with God.  Ezekiel 20:20 “Keep my Sabbaths holy, that they may be a sign between us. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.”  One way to show my dedication to God is by attending church – but read into this more than it says.  When I spend time with God whether in a house of worship or sitting on my floor at home – God craves that time with me and that’s where my faith is strengthened and my servant’s heart constructed.  God teaches me what is best for me Isaiah 48:17 “This is what the Lord says— your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go.”

It’s Sunday, a day to celebrate life in the most extraordinary way – in worship and in honor and in reverence to God, the creator, the keeper, the sustainer of all things.  Are you planning to be in the 25% of people who attend church 3 times each month? Or in the 40% who have attended church – um…sometime but the memory is vague? If you’re in the other 35%, why not try it today?  There’s a church around the corner.  Go to be encouraged. Go to be spiritually filled up after a draining week. Go because God loves you and longs to teach you what is best for you.

Hebrews 10:24-25 “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, 25 not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”

1 Corinthians 14:26 “What then shall we say, brothers and sisters? When you come together, each of you has a hymn, or a word of instruction, a revelation, a tongue or an interpretation. Everything must be done so that the church may be built up.”

Sometimes I wonder why God doesn’t take the desire from me to write this blog. Somehow I stumbled onto this passage of scripture and decided maybe it goes something like this:  Psalm 71:18 “Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, my God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your mighty acts to all who are to come.”  So if you’re reading this and wonder too.  Now you know.

 

Honored by awards

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I was touched.  Wait! I am blessed!  Twice in one week my blog talkkindnesstome was nominated for an honorary award.  One is the Sunshine Blog Award and the other is the Super Sweet Blogging Award.  Now I’m thrilled to be spreading this encouragement and joy to you.  I hope it isn’t cheating to nominate you for both awards. I’ll include the ‘rules’ below so you can pass it on and feed your favorite bloggers a healthy dose of enthusiasm.

The Sunshine Blog Award

The rules of the game are as follows:
1. Link back to your nominator.
2. Add the award image to your page.
3. Share 7 facts about yourself.
4. Nominate 5–10 other blogs (and let them know).

My nominator for the Sunshine Blog Award is Miss Sunshine herself.  http://sunshinescrapbook.wordpress.com

The Sunshine image issunshine-blog-award

Seven random facts about me

  1. I have been blogging about 7 months.  My blogs are all about encouragement for each day.
  2. I don’t like evaluating anyone’s work or actions.
  3. My passion is writing and education.
  4. My goal is to live out my passion by writing online courses and blogging.
  5. I love working and the thought of retiring gives me hives.
  6. I’ve been happily married for 42 years and still going.
  7. My purpose:  Live my life in such a way that those who don’t know God will want to know God because they know you.

 Now here is the rule-set for the Super Sweet Blogging Award

To accept the award I have to do five things:

  1. Thank the nominator for nominating me.  Thank you, thank you, thank you arianazuber! http://arianazuber.wordpress.com/
  2. Answer the 5 Super Sweet questions
  3. Include the Super Sweet logo in this post. You’ll see it below.
  4. Nominate other bloggers for this award.
  5. Notify my nominees on their blogs

1. Thanks — Thank you arianazuber! I really appreciate your kindness.

2. Here are the Super Sweet questions:

  • Cookies or Cake??? –  I love cookies the most! I especially love snickerdoodles.
  • Chocolate or Vanilla?  Most definitely vanilla.  I love vanilla bean most of all.
  • Favorite Sweet Treat? My favorite sweets cinnamon rolls.
  • When Do You Crave Sweets? I don’t crave sweets often, but after a big meal is when I crave them the most.  Go figure. I think it’s because a big meal is usually consumed with family on a holiday and I don’t want it to end.  Having sweet desserts extends the time.
  • Sweet Nickname? Janie

3. Super Sweet LogoSuper sweet blogging award

4. Now for my Sunny and Sweet nominees.  And because I couldn’t decide which award was most fitting, I’m nominating these for both awards.  I’m very, very bad at choosing favorites.

 http://arianazuber.wordpress.com

http://sunshinescrapbook.wordpress.com

http://kathrynwarmstrong.wordpress.com

http://ellenolinger.wordpress.com/

http://boyslumber.wordpress.com/

http://exreligiouschristian.wordpress.com/

http://strategiclearner.wordpress.com

http://memoriesofsalvation.wordpress.com/

http://aholisticjourney.wordpress.com/

http://acaffeinatedbrunette.com

Time to wake up!

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I woke up this morning with this song in my heart: Living for Jesus a life that is true, striving to please him in all that I do. Yielding allegiance glad hearted and free, this is the pathway of blessing for me. Oh Jesus Lord and Savior, I give my heart to thee, for thou in thine atonement, did give yourself for me, I own no other master, my heart will be thy throne, my life I give henceforth to live, O Christ, for thee alone.

I had to go look up when that OLD hymn was written and found this.  “Living for Jesus” was written in 1917 by Thomas Chisholm at the request of the composer, Harold Lowden. He wrote Mr. Chisholm, suggesting the title “Living for Jesus” for a new song and asked Chishom to write the lyrics to go with the music. Chisholm felt very inadequate for the task, but within two weeks the words were completed. “I have greatly desired,” he said, “that each hymn or poem might send some definite message to the hearts for whom it was written.” Though humble in spirit and frail in health, Chisholm found that writing encouraging words such as these for God’s people to sing was his “pathway of blessing.” – Osbeck, K. W. (1990). Amazing grace: 366 inspiring hymn stories

I love the new music, the upbeat heart of it, the words that pour out the spirit of God so we can be spiritually filled. The new music is my favorite, but every now and then God says, “Listen up. You need to hear this. Let me remind you of some things you seem to have forgotten.”

This morning was one of those days.  A friend of mine once told me I remind her of Peter. Oh no, not him.  Peter the impetuous.  Peter the one in John 13: 7-9 who copped and attitude when Jesus told him to sit down for his feet to be washed.  Remember that objection?  “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”  I’m not sure that Peter grasped the full meaning of what Jesus was doing at that moment, but whatever it was, Peter, in his own strength, was trying to fit it and be a pleaser to his ultimate leader.  Peter seemed like the official yes man to me.  Look at John 21:15-17.  Remember him?  Jesus asked point blank, “Do you love me?”  To which Peter blurted out “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”  But just days later when asked by Roman soldiers if he knew Jesus, Peter said ‘No.”  I don’t want to be like that Peter.

But Peter grew up in maturity and in his faith. After his shameful encounter with the soldiers, he had a life changing encounter with God.  Peter recognized Jesus as the true Messiah in Luke 9:20 ““But what about you?” Jesus asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “God’s Messiah.” Then all through the New Testament, Peter speaks out for God’s Messiah, in Acts, in Galatians, in 1 & 2 Peter.

Acts 10:33-35 “Now we are all here in the presence of God to listen to everything the Lord has commanded you to tell us.” Then Peter began to speak: “I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism 35 but accepts from every nation the one who fears him and does what is right.”

In a way, I guess it’s not so bad to be like Peter.  He was a fast follower, but later became a strong follower.  Like Peter, we all have potential. Peter had his wake-up call. He cowardly rejected the Master and was instantly convicted. I think at that point he realized his life was about to go down the wrong path, repented and brought it back on course. Repent means making a 180 degree turn – it means change direction – go the other way – stop doing what you’re doing.

Here’s a wake-up call:  Today is all we’ve got.  Tomorrow is the result of how we live it.

Ready?  Let’s get out there!

Some things take time

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The hardest time to write a song is when you don’t have anything to write about. – Amy Grant

The hardest time to write a blog is when there is so much to write about and so little time to string all the thoughts together and write with conviction and interest those things that are burning to be said. Today is one of those days.

I hope you enjoy this video from Amy Grant – the story of her new album that was 10 years in creation.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PSjIIebZsgg

Unwrap your gift

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OK everybody up! Rise and shine! Good Morning!

A few years ago, I used to pick my granddaughter up at day care.  It was especially fun on Thursdays because the kids would all be excited about the next day – Fun Friday. Funny isn’t it, how even kids at age three know that Fridays are different! Friday is like the gateway to the weekend. What do you love most about the weekend? Catching a few extra minutes (or maybe hours) of sleep?  Getting together with family?  Spending a day with a friend? Running errands to take care of things that have been weighing you down all week? Downshifting on Sunday to mellow out a little, worship God in the company of friends through uplifting music and be spiritually fed through solid Bible teaching?

I love every day of the week. Some are more fun than others – like the day before a holiday or a day like today!  Did you know that every day of the week is good because it’s an opportunity to make a difference? We all have a mission field, that place where just by being in it we can make a difference.  I read a lot! In fact, stand in front of me wearing a t-shirt with words on it, and I’ll read you.  I also listen to videos on as many subjects.  There are many different ways to say the same thing but each writer has a way of expressing the message so their readers identify with and participate in their mission.  Their mission field is vast compared to mine. But this one thing is true for me and it’s true for you, we all have a mission. Some of us just take a crooked path while finding it. In fact, we gain a lot of experience from all the ups and downs, twists and turns while wandering. The key is learning as we go, and using what we’ve learned to help others and help ourselves too, no matter how small our mission field is.

My mission field at home and at work is my opportunity to make a difference. It’s yours as well. We don’t know the impact one small act of kindness will make. Philippians 2:1-4 says: If you’ve gotten anything at all out of following Christ, if his love has made any difference in your life, if being in a community of the Spirit means anything to you, if you have a heart, if you care— then do me a favor: Agree with each other, love each other, be deep-spirited friends. Don’t push your way to the front; don’t sweet-talk your way to the top. Put yourself aside, and help others get ahead. Don’t be obsessed with getting your own advantage. Forget yourselves long enough to lend a helping hand.

Each day is unknown territory. Some days melt into each other with lines that are undistinguishable.  Others are like the entire landscape has changed.  I think of life as a kaleidoscope that needs one thing above all to be effective. Light! So today is Friday and in a few days it will be Monday.  Do I dread Monday? No.  Because  I am looking toward the Light because that’s where I receive energy, contentment, and an unlimited supply of joy. No matter where I work, no matter what the circumstance, whatever job God gives me, I am responsible to Him to work at it with all my heart and be faithful. 1 Thessalonians 5:24 tells me if God calls me to do something he will be alongside me helping me do it.

My devotions for today brought me to this passage from the Message translation: Ecclesiastes 5:18-20 After looking at the way things are on this earth, here’s what I’ve decided is the best way to live: Take care of yourself, have a good time, and make the most of whatever job you have for as long as God gives you life. And that’s about it. That’s the human lot. Yes, we should make the most of what God gives, both the bounty and the capacity to enjoy it, accepting what’s given and delighting in the work. It’s God’s gift!

I’m unwrapping my gift right now.  Are you doing that too?  Let’s get out there and use our gifts!

White flag that conflict

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OK everybody up! Rise and shine! Good Morning!  Remember…nothing is better than this day. And you say, wait a minute. You say that every day. Right! becauset it’s true! I’ve been thinking a lot about that lately. How to have a good day….Well for one thing, turn off the TV and avoid the homepage of msn.com.  OK, so I admit that sinking your head into the sand or making your dwelling place under a rock, but seriously.  As yourself, do you really need to be immersed and saturated in the news of the day upon waking, at noon, at 6 O’clock, and then tune in again just before turning in for the night?  We are saturated in bad news and conflict.

We need a vaccine so we don’t catch the conflict bug that infects every area of our lives. In fact, think about it. When we hear about ‘the bug’ going around do we gravitate toward it so we catch it too? Or do we put up a defense, take precautions and fight it?  Uh-huh.  That’s that what I thought.  Could we successfully set up a defense against the contaminate conflict bug? Move away from the television; move away from the Internet and nobody gets hurt. If only it were that easy.  We can’t totally escape from civilization of which both the Internet and television are foundational. But we can decouple, unhook and minimize our dependence.

Challenge #1 – Get your news in snatches, listen and read just enough to stay informed, but not enough to take ownership in the conflict.

Challenge #2 – If you’re passionate about an issue, take action and get involved in making a difference there, but let someone else handle the rest.  Reduce anxiety.

Challenge #3 – This requires no skill but is the most important challenge of all because it takes effort and determination.  Immerse your mind in right thinking.  Philippians 4 has this to say about how to accomplish right thinking.  Here are a few comments from the Message:  “Celebrate God all day, every day. Make it as clear to all you meet that you’re on their side, working with them and not against them. Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.  Summing it all up, you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Now put them into practice and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.”

I know this is an obscure book in the Bible and doesn’t get much press but listen in on a few verses in Zephaniah 3:16-18 “Don’t be afraid … don’t despair. Your God is present among you, a strong Warrior there to save you…he’ll calm you with his love and delight you with his songs.”

We have the tools, we can do this.  We can be the calm in the storm.  We can be lean on God, lean on friends, lean on family and let’s get out there and rock the world till it tilts toward what’s good….
Galatians 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. The battle rages on . . . raise your white flag……http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3Q5CxQ24bA