Awesomeness!!

I love teenagers; I enjoy their company, their enthusiasm and energy. I like their emotions too; the way their faces and eyes give them away even when they try to hide. I realize as a grandma, I have a little different perspective on teenagers. If you are a parent of teenagers, my only advice is to hold on, pray and ride the storm as your children gradually unfold before your eyes. Watching them mature into their own skin is frustrating, frightening, unnerving and wonderful. Absolutely wonderful!

Last night I attended a youth service here in N.C. I was not certain what to expect since we are, after all dealing with teens, but let me say: it was great! My husband and I stood in the back because we wanted to observe the worship and watch our grandson playing his bass guitar and singing on the stage. My goodness! Blond curls, blue eyes, skinny jeans and hand painted tennis shoes.

He was amazing. And he sang. I have been in many services with him where getting him to sing was a job - but he sang, he played, he worshipped. He was awesome.

In the back of the room was a table with several young people sitting and working. There in the middle was our next grandson busy on his laptop putting words on the overhead screen. Watching him bouncing in his seat, singing and typing all at the same time, I had flashbacks of his mom and uncle both taking their turns on the overhead. He was awesome!

At the end of the table was his younger brother bent intently over the soundboard, listening, adjusting, moving with the music. One more awesome!

Royce and I have 15 wonderful grandkids, each awesome in their own way. Each has his or her own place in God, their particular set of talents and interests,  last night I watched as these three took their place in the house of God and it was a good thing. God has once again proven himself faithful.

The promises He has given us, the words He has spoken, the prayers prayed, the tears shed, none of it is wasted. Every time we go before Him in prayer or to look upon His face, something is done in the spirituals. Something timeless and lasting. This world is of course temporary, but the things done in the spiritual - they are everlasting and they are life.

After a few moments they began to sing about loving His presence. Hands went up all over the congregation and young voices raised in love to Jesus. This grandma stood in the midst and raised hands and sang along .. "I love Your presence."  I was no longer a spectator. In His presence age doesn't matter. One last awesome!

I will sing of the mercies of the Lord forever. With my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations. Psalm 89:1

We are climbing Jacob's ladder, children of the King. Climbing a ladder is fun when you are too little to actually do it;  it is exciting when you are first allowed to climb; it becomes work when you reach the age that you must climb to access roof tops, and scary when you reach my age.

But, climb we do and climb we must. Whether it is to reach something high on a shelf or to reach something high in the spirituals. Climbing is all of the above: fun, exciting, work and scary. Of course Jacob saw the ladder into Heaven while resting comfortably on the ground, using a rock for a pillow. God spoke many promises to him during his dream; promises of blessings over him and his family.

If we read the account in Genesis 28, we understand that although Jacob was lounging when the Lord appeared in a dream; showing him the ladder and speaking promises over his life, we understand that Jacob was on a long and uncertain journey. After deceiving his brother, Jacob was fleeing to his mother's family in order to avoid Esau's plan to kill him. With no modern communication devices, he did not know what or who awaited him.

Climbing, whether physical or spiritual, is a part of life. One step at a time, rung upon rung, precept upon precept, we press onward up the steps of  Jacob's ladder. Sometimes gracefully, other times showing parts of ourselves that should be kept hidden; but always moving upward toward the prize of the high calling of Christ. That we might know him.

Had Jacob chosen to remain at home and hide behind his mother's skirts, he may never have seen the ladder or received the promises over his life. It took being pushed out of the nest and traveling out on his own to come into that place where the Lord appeared to him. Being shoved out of the nest is never a pleasant thing, but it appears to be a necessary event in many of our lives. That pushing comes in different ways and at different times. Many of us have been pushed out of several nests, but always the Lord is there, waiting, speaking, encouraging, helping and bringing us closer to Him.

Keep climbing, keep looking up, do not look back and do not look down lest you lose your balance and/or your courage. God is with us as we climb, He is waiting for us to ascend to that place in Him where we rest complete.

Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.  Phil. 3: 13 & 14

Mountains and Rainbows

"When you're up on the mountain"....I love that song. It goes on to talk about being on the mountain and everything being so easy and faith runs high. But then, its down in the valley where that same faith is really put to the test. Most of us can relate to that principle. Mountain top experiences are wonderful but life seems to be more realistic in the valleys, closer somehow.

A walk through the valley is peaceful with the soft damp air, lush green ferns and vines. Even the moss and the ground is a bit softer and easier to walk on. Something about the valley makes me want to stop and ponder, relax and look inward. In the valley He restores my soul. Its that quiet, uninterrupted intimacy with Him that makes the valley so appealing to me.

Like most of you, I have had my walks through the valley - even  the valley of the shadow of death. The shadow lands are still and quiet; you can feel the very breath of Jesus on your soul. His nearness in those times is comforting and peaceful while strengthening at the same time.

Back in the year 2000, Royce and I were in the Big Horn Mountains in Wyoming. Mountains in the west are different from the ones here in the south. For one, there are very few people around, but other than that, the mountains themselves are different. There is not as much undergrowth and the roads tend to go more upward instead of around and around to get there.

That day I remember riding on the crest of the mountain for miles. We were literally on top of the mountain and yet we were in a meadow. Wildflowers were everywhere and the antelope really did play around. The air was thin and crisp and even though it was June, the coolness on our face was wonderful. At one point we stopped to take photos of the flowers and as we walked arm in arm it was so peaceful that words would have been an interruption. We stopped and he wrapped his arms around me and we looked at each other in the stillness. His kiss was still sweet on my lips as we started our drive back down the mountain.  

Halfway down, the sky clouded over and rain came in spots here and there as we drove. After a bit the clouds cleared and the sun came out again. Then, off to the side we noticed a beautiful rainbow. Since there was no one else around, we decided that rainbow was our special gift from God.

Little did we know that in only a few days, the photo of that rainbow would be posted on the wall in his hospital room in the burn unit. Yes, the mountain had been wonderful, but now we started our walk through the valley. Faithful as always, the Lord had given us a wonderful mountaintop experience with a little reminder to look at in the hospital. There was and is, and will always be: a rainbow.

He is faithful.

The Purple Chair

The Lord is with me wherever I go. Why then does it seem that He is more with me some places than others?  Did you ever notice that? Some places have a special closeness to Jesus. For me it is in my purple chair in the bedroom, in front of the bay window. I think the Holy Spirit is partial to that area too.

When I go to my chair I really do not have time to pray before He's there. Isn't that interesting? Perhaps it because we've met there so many times before, but it's like he's waiting for me. What an awesome thought: that Jesus is waiting for me. And, even more awesome, He enjoys being with me.

I remember when we were in the burn unit in Utah: I was sitting all alone in a crowded hospital cafeteria when He showed up to sit with me. That moment is forever etched in my being. The fact that He came was wonderful enough, but he came as my Friend! Not to preach or even to talk, but just to sit with me and be my Friend. The revelation of Jesus as my Friend was amazing on an entirely new level for me. Later, someone told me that He chooses his friends. I cannot even begin to put into words what that does for my heart. Over the years our friendship has grown and deepened, just like any earthly friendship.

He is still Savior, Deliverer, Mighty God, Holy One. But, think about it; if He is all those things but not your friend, he remains distant. Am I a name dropper? You betcha! When it comes to His name I'll let everyone know I have special treatment - I'm HIS!

Today its the purple chair, in 2000 it was the hospital cafeteria, or the cement bench outside the hospital. I'm thinking perhaps our place of visitation with Jesus is anywhere we get still and quiet and open to His presence. Of course He is always with us; He promised that. But it is different when He breaks through into our consciousness and we talk with Him face to face.

It can be noisy and busy all around us, but deep inside our spirit we open and there He is, waiting to help, comfort, correct, guide, encourage and listen -- whatever we need at the moment. He is indeed an awesome God!

I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit - fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.

This is my command: Love each other.

John 15:15 - 17

Soar Like An Eagle...Or Even A Crane

Dear God, make me a bird so I can fly far, far away. Or as David so eloquently stated in Psalm 55:6 "Oh, If I had the wings of a dove, I would fly away and be at rest." Cop out theology? Perhaps. David, however, spoke of flying away to the desert. That would not be my first choice.

I read a comment in a news letter from David Wilkerson this morning that was more like my thoughts. He stated there are two things the Holy Spirit whispers to our hearts to bring comfort:

1. "you are loved."

2. "you are leaving."

I like that!

Yes, we occupy til He comes. Yes, we are connected, active and interested in the affairs of this world, our families and the Church. We are commissioned to go into the highways and byways and speak of God's love and faithfulness. Nothing brings greater satisfaction in life than seeing God move in lives as we pray.

But, bottom line, we are loved and we are leaving. Heaven is still our goal; our home for all eternity. I never want to become so entangled in the affairs of this life that I forget where we are going and how wonderful it will be there.

One of my favorite songs from years ago still rings true in my heart:

O, Lord, you know I have no friend like you

If Heaven's not my home, then Lord what would I do.

The angels beckon me from Heaven's open door,

And I can't feel at home in this world anymore."

Even so, come quickly Lord Jesus!

Keep Walking

"The secret to success is constancy of purpose." A familiar phrase to most of us, a reminder to keep moving, stay on task, go the next pitch, carry your axe to the mountain and work at it every day. The Bible instructs us to "be instant in season, out of season;"  Whew!

For those of us who tend to follow our mood, being instant and constant often proves difficult. One morning I may be up and ready to tackle the day while the next I'm quite content to have my coffee in bed....at 11:00~ 

This past week I spent some time with a family member who embodies this principle of constancy. She is a lovely woman of God who inspires me more than she will ever know. Of course she is constant in her service to the Lord, her daily habits, her prayer life; but the thing that really catches my attention is her constancy in love. So often when we are together I find myself discussing things close to my heart. Things that I do not discuss with anyone seem to rise to the surface when I am with her.

I've been pondering today on why that is and I have decided  it is because I feel safe with her. I feel the unconditional love of God coming through her. It is constant and unchanging. Even though I occasionally shock her a tad with my ideas on life, God, etc, her love for me never changes.

Constancy of purpose in loving God's people. Isn't that awesome? And isn't that really the most important area to be constant in? If we do all the works, all the good "things" that are wonderful but do not allow His unconditional love to flow through us, what have we accomplished? We are like sounding brass and tinkling cymbals. I would rather have coffee in bed at 11:00 while visiting with the Lord - or my husband - or a friend - than be on time in the laundry room any day.

Thank you Lord for my friend and for all those that walk in your love, even when it is difficult. Your love never fails.

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal..

If I have the gift of prophecy, and can fathom all mysteries, and all knowledge; and if I have a faith, that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
I Corinthians 13: 1 &2 (NIV)

My Feet Are Fine!

Earlier in the week, I received a phone call from our new insurance carrier. It went something like this:

"Hello Mrs. Diaz, this is ..... and I need to set up an appointment for a Nurse Practitioner to come out and visit you."

"Ummm...OK...?"

"Yes, she will check your feet and legs, go over your medications to make sure you understand everything and check your blood pressure."

"????? My feet are fine! AND I do not take any medications."  ????

It went downhill from there. I finally passed the phone to Mr Wonderful who of course was polite and handled it graciously. He then explained that he knew someone would be coming out but did not think anything about it. Well, I spent the next week fuming every time I thought about it. My feet indeed! My meds????

I think it hit me so deeply because it reminded me of the time when Mom lived with us and I routinely set up appointments for a home nurse to visit her. There's the rub! I am not my mom, (although that would not be bad, she is much older than me.)  I am not 80 years old and I am not close to passing on from this world. Its amazing how quickly a simple phone call can take me back 20 years and put me in a difficult place all over again. Those years were filled with daily stress and heartache, watching my beautiful mom fade away bit by bit.

Trying to surrender and understand things from the insurance company point of view, I began praying for the Lord to give me grace. Of course it did not help when the nurse left a message that she would be here at 8:30 in the morning. Good gracious. Who even does that????

My prayers increased. I knew of course it wasn't the nurse's fault; she was only doing her job. I prayed for God to give me the attitude He wanted me to have. An emergency pedicure late that evening did not help my attitude though. It's winter for goodness sake. Sigh....

Early the next morning she arrived right on schedule. Wouldn't you know it? As soon as I opened the door, I liked her. Isn't it crazy how God does that sort of thing? She came in and we sat at the kitchen table.That's about the time He showed up.

During the medical history it came out about the explosion back in 2000 and our summer spent in the burn unit. She cried.

After finishing with his history, she started on mine and of course the auto accident from 2004 came out. She cried.

We talked about her patients and some of the things she faces on a daily basis. Of course no names were used. Her heart was touched by the needs of people. She cried.

By now we were old friends, enjoying a morning visit over coffee.

The visit was completed and she gathered her things to leave. The Lord spoke gently to my heart, "pray for her." I spoke gently back to Him, "please, no." He spoke again, "pray for her." I replied again, "please, no."

OK - many of you are saying, what is wrong with you???? My answer to you is, ???

Finally, I walked over, touched her arm, and asked if I might pray for her. Big smiles!!! Tears!!! She put all her things down, wrapped her arm around me and said, "Please!" The Lord gave me a beautiful prayer over her. One of the times when the words came and I heard them at the same time I spoke them. When we were finished, she was openly crying. Mr Wonderful was crying. I just looked at both of them. As we walked her to the front door, she was still saying, "You have no idea how much I needed that today."

So, once again I have learned to trust the Lord. Trust Him to orchestrate my days; who comes and who doesn't. Trust Him to have His way with my life, my body, my time. Trust Him when I know He wants me to pray for someone. Trust God.

Thank you Jesus for allowing me to be a part of your plan for the day. How awesome. And once again, forgive my hesitancy in obeying you. I am trying, really I am.

And no, she never checked my feet. Thank you Jesus for that too!

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth! Isa. 52:7