The Touch of The Master's Hand

Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer

thought it scarcely worth his while to waste much time on the old violin,

but held it up with a smile; "What am I bidden, good folks," he cried,

"Who'll start the bidding for me?" "A dollar, a dollar"; then two!" "Only

two? Two dollars, and who'll make it three? Three dollars, once; three

dollars twice; going for three.." But no, from the room, far back, a

gray-haired man came forward and picked up the bow; Then, wiping the dust

from the old violin, and tightening the loose strings, he played a melody

pure and sweet as caroling angel sings.

The music ceased, and the auctioneer, with a voice that was quiet and low,

said; "What am I bid for the old violin?" And he held it up with the bow.

A thousand dollars, and who'll make it two? Two thousand! And who'll make

it three? Three thousand, once, three thousand, twice, and going and

gone," said he. The people cheered, but some of them cried, "We do not

quite understnad what changed its worth." Swift came the reply: 

"The touch 

of a master's hand."

*********************************************************************************

This is first part of a poem in a children's book that I have and love.  (The Touch of The Master's Hand, by Myra Brooks Welch)  When I read this, the picture that comes to my mind is that of all of us...sinners.  We were being auctioned off, each one of us with a different price, but equally cheap.  For some, the price is pride.  Some is anger.  Some is addiction.  Some is bitterness.  The list could go on, but the price was cheap enough to be paid.

Right when the world and Satan was getting ready to say "Going once, twice, Gone", a master stepped up.  Not just any master, The Master.  I like to think that He looked at all of my scratches and brokenness.  He noticed every single flaw.  That Master lovingly picked me up, saw the cheap price tag and just smiled.  Smiled because right there in His hand, underneath my cheap price tag was His receipt:  in the form of a scar.  That receipt was from a long time ago, before I was ever up for sale.  He paid a price that the world could never come close to.  The world may wonder what changed my worth and the answer is as simple as the one in the story... 

The touch of a master's hand.

Look Ahead

One of the verses I've come to love is Isaiah 43:18-19.  It says, "Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old.  Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth;  shall ye not know it?  I will even make a way through the wilderness, and rivers in the desert."

I don't necessarily like change. No matter how big or small, it takes me time to adjust. I seem to always find myself looking back at how things used to be or what I think they should be.  However that's not God's plan for us to live in the past or to keep looking and longing for former things. 

This verse reminds us that even when we feel like our dreams are all but gone, He is doing a new thing in our lives.  Those old dreams aren't necessarily gone...He has set within us new dreams.  And when those new plans seem so far out of reach, He reminds us that HE will make a way.  Through the wilderness when we can't see through all the brush, He has set a path.  Through the desert when we feel so alone and hopeless, He has made rivers to refresh our soul.

Lord, give me strength to handle changes, knowing that you have already gone before me and made a way.  Help me keep my eyes fixed forward on you so that I can begin to see Your new plans for my life. 

"Pass Me Not O Gentle Savior"

Eagerness is something I see in first grade on a daily basis. Eagerness to learn, eagerness to play, eagerness to have fun, eagerness to do things right.  But probably the type of eagerness I most see is eagerness to please and eagerness to help. It doesn't matter what the task, but when I start a sentence with, "I need someone to...", I can count on 20 little hands to shoot up. 20 little smiles as if to say, "Choose me! Choose me!"  They don't know what the end of that sentence is going to be. It could be something that is not fun like pick up trash around the room or push in chairs or straighten up the computer center.  But I've learned that the end of that sentence doesn't matter...they just want chosen for the job.

I heard the song "Pass Me Not, O Gentle Savior" the other day and it made me think about that simple eagerness. Part of the chorus says, "while on others thou art calling, do not pass me by".  How many times The Lord calls on me and you to do things and how many times we find excuses not to.  Maybe it's not the right timing for us, or I'm too shy, or I don't have the resources or means.  What would it look like if we were like my little first graders.  Not even waiting to hear the whole request, just opening our hearts and saying "choose me, Lord, I can do it".  I have been taught to have a servant's heart, and I want to be willing and eager to please Him. Eager to be chosen.


"Pass me not, O gentle Savior,
hear my humble cry;
while on others thou art calling,
do not pass me by.

Savior, Savior, hear my humble cry;
while on others thou art calling,
do not pass me by."
by Fanny Crosby

We’ll Never Know

"You'll never know." I whispered this to Joey Kate and kissed her as we were walking through WalMart and she was being cute and funny. I probably say this to her a dozen times a day. "You'll never know." And she won't.

She'll never know how much she was wanted. She'll never know how much she was prayed for. She'll never know all the shots, medicine, dr. appointments I had so that she would have the hope of a healthy life. She'll never know how it took every ounce of strength I had to have her. She'll never know how much she's loved.

       I thought about how God must whisper this to us a dozen times a day as well. We'll never know.

We'll never know how much we are wanted. We'll never know how much we are interceded for. We'll never know all the beatings, wounds, and scars He had so that we would have the hope of eternal life. We'll never know how it took every ounce of His earthly strength to die on the cross for us. We'll never know how much we are loved.

I am overwhelmed. I am humbled. I am blessed...all because I will never know.

"We love him, because He first loved us."

John 4:19  (KJV)

He’s Been Faithful

As 2014 wraps up and I think about this past year, my mind replays ups and downs that I stumbled through.  In March, I got news from my Dr. that wasn’t the greatest.  Granted, it could’ve been a lot worse, but could’ve been better, too.  I cried for what seemed so impossible at the time.  I remember sitting on the couch and John wiping away my tears, telling me to trust the Lord’s plan and timing for it all.

When I think of that now, I have to smile.  I have to smile because here it is, not even a whole year later, and I see the Lord’s faithfulness sleeping in my arms.  Not even a whole year later, and I see the Lord’s plan clearer than I ever have.  Not even a whole year later, and I see how His ways are so much higher than my own. 

So, as far as 2014 goes, I will forever cherish it as a reminder of His faithfulness.  Hopefully, as you look back on this past year, you, too, can see His fingerprints amidst all of your own ups and downs.  He’s been faithful in 2014, and I know He’ll be faithful in 2015, as well! 

Happy 2015, Friends!

“But the Lord is faithful…”

2 Thessalonians 3:3  KJV

I Wonder What Mary Saw

When they placed the crown of thorns on His head, I wonder if Mary thought about all the times she had ruffled his little boy hair?

When He stumbled and fell under the weight of the cross, I wonder if Mary saw the unsteady steps of a little boy, learning to walk?

When she saw the stripes and bruises on His back, I wonder if she thought about all the little boy hurts she had kissed away?

When He crawled onto the cross, I wonder if Mary saw her baby learning to crawl?

When they nailed His hands, I wonder if Mary saw two chubby little baby hands?

When they took His feet and began to hammer, I wonder if she saw the baby boy feet she once playfully tickled?

When He cried out in pure agony, I wonder if Mary heard the cries of her newborn baby boy?

When she looked at His face, beaten, bloody, and unrecognizable, I wonder if Mary saw her beautiful boy?

When He said, “It is finished”, I wonder if Mary was thinking about the beginning?

When He took His last breath, I wonder if Mary was thinking about His first?

When she looked at His broken body hanging high up on the cross, I wonder if she knew it was for me?

“Have You Considered My Servant?”

    Most usually when you are getting ready to assign a task, you choose the most qualified.  You generally don’t choose the weakest member of the group, you pick someone who will get the job done.  Someone you trust and have confidence in:  someone you believe in.  If you are the overseer, you want to know that when that whatever the job assigned, your person will do it, do it well, and get it finished.

    I feel like Job was God’s “person”.  When the satan came around, the Lord knew exactly who He wanted for the job.  He knew that Job had faith and trust in Him and wouldn’t back down.  He would stand through any tests and temptations, firm.  Job was the person for the job.  When things got tough, and we all can read how tough it actually got, the Lord had confidence in His servant.  The Lord knew Job’s heart.  He trusted him to do the job, do it well, and finish the task.

    How many times things pop up in our lives that don’t seem to be the best of situations.  You feel tested and tried and spent on every level.  Life gets hard.  I want to be the kind of servant, like Job, that the Lord has utmost confidence in.  The kind of servant that He can say, “have you considered my servant Amy?”  The kind of servant He can depend on. 

So when tests and trials knock us down, and they will, keep an unwavering faith…the Lord may have specifically chosen the best servant, you, for that particular test.

 

“And the Lord said unto satan, “Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?

Job 1:8 KJV

Giving Up on “Easy”

“For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!”

2 Corinthians 4:17

 

This was the verse I needed after a rough couple of weeks.  My sweet, patient husband reminded me that “God has a plan for us.” And my response was, “I know but it doesn’t make it any easier right now.”  I didn’t want a plan…I wanted easy.  I didn’t want a fight…I wanted easy.  I didn’t want an uphill climb…I wanted easy.  I didn’t want unknowns…I wanted easy.  I wanted the kind of easy that other people seemed to have and not even realize it.  I felt entitled to easy. 

          Sitting in church on Sunday, I replayed our conversation back.  Then it hit me that I’m not entitled to easy.  He didn’t promise easy…He promised to show up when things got hard.  He didn’t promise easy…He promised to help carry our burdens.  He didn’t promise easy…He promised to stand on the battlefield beside us. 

          This is part of the song we sing at church by the Crabb Family:

So many times I question the certain circumstances of things I could not understand.
And many times in trials, my weakness blurs my vision, and my frustration gets so out of hand.
It's then I am reminded, I've never been forsaken.
I've never had to stand one test alone.
When I look at all the victories, the Spirit rises up in me.
It's through the fire my weakness is made strong.

He never promised that the cross would not get heavy and the hill would not be hard to climb.
He never offered victories without fighting but He said help would always come in time.
Just remember when you're standing in the valley of decision and the adversary says give in,   Just hold on.
Our Lord will show up
and He will take you through the fire again!

            So right now, I’m going to trust His promises, even though they don’t always include “easy”.  I’m holding on, knowing that he’ll show up.  I know that the tougher the trial the more His glory shines and so for right now, I’m okay with giving up on easy.

Purpose or Accident?

           Purpose or accident?  That is a question I find myself asking a lot on a daily basis.  Dealing with 6 and 7 year olds, it’s a question that needs asked quite a few times a day.  “Did you hit him on purpose or accident?”  “Did you hurt her feelings on purpose or accident?”  Rarely, I have a first grader say that he/she did something on purpose…it is most always an accident.  Sometimes though, there’s a little on who will admit that they purposefully did something wrong.

A couple weeks ago, it was one of those days where I had asked that question all day long, more times than I cared to count.  I was on my home from school thinking about our day.  I was tired and grouchy as I recalled the events from the day.  I felt the Lord put the question back on my heart, “purpose or accident”.  I was sick of that question, but the Lord kept placing it in my mind.  “Purpose or accident”?  As I thought about the question, I examined its application on my own life.  Do I do my actions in regards to my walk with Him on purpose or accident? 

An accident is an event that is unplanned and has lack of intention or necessity.  Are my prayers and Bible reading that casual…no real plan…haphazard?  As in any relationship, my relationship with Jesus is a two way street, give and take.  Jesus does nothing by accident, everything is on purpose.  To do something on purpose is to have a goal.  When He was born, it was a necessity.  He didn’t “accidentally” end up hanging on a cross and dying.  He willing placed himself on the cross with intention, He had a goal.  His goal was to save my soul.  He expects that same level of purposefulness from me.  He expects me to live for Him with purpose.  A goal to share His love with others.  Intention to glorify Him.  Determination to make it Heaven one day. 

Purpose or accident?  It’s a simple little question with profound meaning.  So what’s your answer?  Is your walk with Him driven by purpose or accident?

“A Moment of Weakness”

        We all know the story of Thomas.  A man whose life has been summed up by his weakest moment:  a moment of doubt.  And while most people don’t strive to be like him, we all have our moments.  I’m not downplaying his lapse in faith.  But it’s part of human nature.  We all doubt sometimes.  When we don’t get answers to prayers or when life get difficult and we feel our weakest, doubt settles within us. 

        Thomas’ questions didn’t mean that he didn’t love Jesus or that he was turning away from Him.  It was just a moment of weakness.  A moment of weakness that I can relate to.  All Thomas wanted was proof.  He wanted tangible evidence that the Lord was there and that He was who He said He was.  Don’t we all look for that?  Don’t we all sometimes need a little reassurance of those things? 

        Thomas was lucky…he was able to physically touch the Lord and see the scars.  We don’t have that opportunity.  But when I start letting doubt set in and I start looking for proof, it doesn’t take long to find evidence.  I see my husband and family…it’s proof that He’s God.  I see my church family worshipping together…it’s proof that He’s God.  I see someone accept Him into their hearts…it’s proof that He’s God.  I see my sweet little Sunday School class…it’s proof that He’s God.  I see how my path has been meticulously guided…it’s proof that He’s God. 

        I can relate to Thomas.  But I don’t have to look too hard or too far to see past my doubt and, like Thomas, I can proclaim, “My Lord and my God!”

^“But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.  The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.  And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.  And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.”

John 20:24-28  KJV

Worn-Out Ladders

I have been on the lookout lately for an old wooden ladder for our living room.  I want one that is a little used, but in good enough condition to hang quilts on.  I went into a little crafty home store and looked around.  I told the salesclerk what I was looking for and asked if she could help me.  She said that they had one old ladder for sale, but it was warped and had broken rungs and she was pretty sure it wasn’t what I was looking for.  As we were looking at it, I told her that I saw one in the other room that was in pretty good condition.  We went to look, but she was pretty sure is wasn’t for sale, it was just for display.  She said that the reason she knew it wasn’t for sale was because the displays are always in great condition.  They are better and sturdier than the ones actually for sale.  The ones for sale often had broken or loose rungs and lots of wear and tear.

If you’re an avid church-goer, chances are you’ve heard people say that they are “farther up the ladder” than they used to be.  I started thinking about “spiritual ladders”.  Some people have ladders that are in pristine condition.  They are on display.  They are symbols of Christianity, but in fact, they never get used.  I’m so glad that my ladder is far from perfect.  My ladder shows the tell-tale signs of use.  The ladder that I’m climbing is full of wear and tear.  It’s full of warped wood, maybe where I’ve shed tears and cried out to Him.  It’s full of splinters, maybe where I’ve had to readjust for the climb.  It’s full of broken rungs, maybe where I’ve spent more time at those places seeking Him.  It’s full of indentions, maybe where I’ve had to hold on a little tighter. 

So as I looked at the ladder with the broken rung and loose nails, I smiled…it was exactly what I was looking for!

“And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it”

Genesis 28:12  KJV

"In the Stable with Mary" by Beth Moore

Just wanted to share this poem written by Beth Moore.  What a detailed picture from Mary's perspective of that night.

"Her body lay sapped of strength, her eyes were heavily closed, but her mind refused to give way to rest. She ached for her mother. She wondered if she yet believed her. She heard the labored breathing of the man sleeping a few feet from her. Only months before he was little more than a stranger to her. She knew only what she’d been told and what she could read in occasional shy glances. She had been told he was a good man. Over the last few days, she found out he was far more than a good man. No man, no matter how kind, could have done what he had done. She wondered how long it had been since he’s really rested.

A calf, only a few days old, awakened hungry and could not find its mother. The stir awakened the baby, who also squirmed to find His mother. Scarcely before she could move her tender frame toward the manger, He began to wail! She scooped Him in her arms, her long hair draping over His face, and she quietly slipped out of the gate. She gingerly sat down and leaned against the outside of the stable, propped the baby on her small lap, and taking a strip of linen and tying back her hair, she began to stare into His tiny face. She had not yet seen Him in the light.

She had never seen the moon so bright. The night was nearly as light as the day. Only hours old, His chin quivered, not from the cold, but from the sudden exposure of birth. His eyes were shaped like almonds and were as black as the deepest well. She held Him tightly and quietly hummed a song she’d learned as a child. She had been so frightened of this moment, so sure she would not know what to do. She had never held an infant so small, and He was God, wrapped in soft, infant flesh, with bones so fragile she felt like He could break. She had pictured this moment so many times. What would the Son of the Spirit look like? She never expected Him to look so normal, so common. Must have been the part He inherited from His mother. She was so sure she’d feel so terribly awkward. So afraid she’d drop Him – the Messiah – and God would be awfully sorry He had given Him to her! Instead, every fear, every doubt, every inadequacy was momentarily caught up in the indescribable rapture of a mother’s affection.

She remembered asking Elizabeth things she dared not ask her father and mother. Once when they were walking together at the end of the day, the wind blew her cousin’s robes against her, and like a curious teenager, Mary tried her hardest to catch a good glimpse of Elizabeth’s rounded middle. At the time she herself had no physical evidence that God’s promise was true. But she had enough faith to ask endless questions. What am I to do when He comes? Her cousin’s reply would remain forever etched upon Mary’s heart long after He had saved the world. He will tell you what He needs from you. Beyond what He needs, all He wants is for you to embrace Him and talk to Him.

She looked back into His delicate face and watched Him closely as He seemed to stare deeply into the moonlit sky. And she began to talk. “Sweet baby boy. Do You know who Your Daddy is? Do You know Your name? Do You know why You’re here? What do You see when You look out there? Can You see the stars? Do You remember their names? Do You think I’ll do ok? Will You love me too?” A tear dropped from her chin to His. He yawned and made such a funny expression she grinned, wiping her face on the yellowed rags she’d draped around Him. The fussing calf had obviously found its mother. Not a sound was coming from inside the stable. The earth stilled. The infant slept. She held the babe next to her face, and for just a moment, all the world was silent to the breath of God.

She closed her eyes and listened, stealing time like a hidden metronome, as high and as wide as she dared to think, but still she could not begin to comprehend. She, a common child of the most humble means who never read the Scriptures for herself, was embracing the incarnate Word. The fullness of the Godhead rested in her inexperienced arms, sleeping to the rhythm of her heart. This time she hummed a song she did not know, a song being sung by the choirs of angels hovering over her head but hidden from her carnal senses. The deafening hallelujahs of the heavenly hosts were silent to mortal ears except through the sounds of a young woman’s voice who had unknowingly given human notes to a Holy score. The glory of God filled the earth. Heaven hammered out a bridge, but one young woman sat completely unaware of all that swelled the atmosphere around her. The tiny baby boy had robbed her heart. “So, this is how it feels to be a mother,” she mused.

She crept back into the stable, wrapped Him in swaddling clothes, and laid Him in the manger. Just down the path, the sun peeked gently over the roof of an inn full of barren souls who had made Him no room."

Merry Christmas!

Thankful for Hands

I read a little story one time about a teacher who asked her kids to draw something they were thankful for.  She said that it was a poor area and even though most of the kids wouldn’t have a Thanksgiving dinner, they still drew a table full of food.  When she was looking at the pictures, she saw one picture that just had a hand on it.  She asked the little guy whose hand he drew, and his reply was that he drew her hand…his teacher’s.  He told her that he loved when she held his hand at recess or walking through the building and he was thankful for her.

I thought about all the hands in my life that I’m thankful for this year.  I’m thankful for my husband’s hands that hold mine.  So much love, understanding and patience he has for me.  I’m thankful for my family’s hands that I can hold.  So much love and support they give.  I’m thankful for the little handprints of my niece and nephew on my TV that I couldn’t make myself wipe away.  So much wonder and joy they have brought to my life.  I’m thankful for the hands of my church family that pat my back when I pray.  I have more confidence and faith in their prayers than they will ever know.  I’m thankful for the little hands I hold each day at school.  They have so much belief in me.  But most importantly, I’m thankful for two nail scarred hands.  Those hands provide grace.  Those hands show mercy.  Those hands give hope.  Those hands are the symbols of unconditional love.

As Thanksgiving has come and gone, I hope you were able to think of all the hands in your life that you are thankful for.

"For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand..."

Isaiah 41:13  KJV

Popcorn Parties at Bedtime

        I don’t remember exactly how old I was, but I remember being little and having a bedtime.  I went to bed, but I could hear Mom and Dad still awake.  For some reason, this convinced me that Mom and Dad waited until me and Emily went to bed and had popcorn parties.  I just knew that they would stay up all night watching movies, eating popcorn , having the time of their lives, and I wasn’t happy about it. 

        I confronted my Mom about it, lol.  I asked her why they didn’t go to bed when we had to, and also that I knew their secret.  I can remember my Mom laughing and telling me that they didn’t go to bed because they still had things to do to get prepared for the next day and that they watched over us while we were sleeping.  She assured me that nobody was having popcorn parties without me!  I accepted her explanation, because after all, I knew my mom wouldn’t lie to me.

        I was reading this verse from Psalms, and I thought back to that time.

Psalm 4:8 (NIV)

In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.

        What a comfort this verse is!  I’m so glad that I can lay down and sleep peacefully, knowing He’s still up.  He has things to get done…situations to work out and plans to put in place.  While I am sleeping I know He is up watching over me.  So pull those blankets up a little tighter, and rest well…He’s not out partying…He’s getting things in order just for you.

Casting in the Deep

        Several weeks ago John and I took the boat out on the lake.  It was one of those perfect days…he fished, I layed out, picnic lunch.  I decided to try my hand at fishing.  (I have a system that works REAL well for baiting my own hook, but never having to touch the worms! Lol)  I cast my line and waited.  I waited and waited, got bored, waited some more and nothing.  I eventually stopped because I was bored and pretty sure that even though I couldn’t see through the water, there were no fish there and I was wasting my time.

        We moved to a different spot.  Under a rock overhang where the water was a little shallow.  I could see the bottom and clearly see fish swimming around right there.  Seeing those fish, I picked up my pole and thought I’d give it another shot.  With that many fish one was just bound to jump on my hook and that’s what happened.

        Later, when thinking about that day, it dawned on me that a lot times that’s how we live our Christian lives.  It’s SO easy to trust and have faith when we can see through the water and know what’s coming.  We will wait however long it takes because we know that there are blessings there.  We can SEE them! 

        But it’s when we travel out a little deeper, when we can’t see what’s underneath, that our trust and faith really proves true.  I couldn’t see and got tired of waiting, so I quit until it got easy.  That’s not the way to live.  Don’t get tired of waiting for your blessing.  Keep casting that line and having faith…you might get the biggest catch when you don’t know it’s coming! 

“Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.”

Psalm 27:14  KJV

Familiar Voices

John and I were at mom and dad’s helping them convert home movies from VHS to DVD.   While he was showing them how to do it, we were watching one of the tapes.  I had taken my eyes off the TV for a minute and while I was looking away, I heard one of the most familiar sounds I’ve ever heard.  It was a voice that I hadn’t heard in almost 10 years, but I knew exactly who it belonged to.  My papa, who passed away almost 10 years ago, was talking on the tape.  My eyes instantly filled with tears.  You know how you always think you’ll remember forever the sound of someone’s voice, but the truth is, we forget.  I talked to him every day, either at his house or on the phone, but with time, I had forgotten what his voice sounded like.  Hearing it on the tape was so personal.  Just like he was talking directly to me, even though he was just saying something for the camera.

     That made me think of the Lord’s voice.  Some people have said that His voice has been almost, if not, audible to them at times.  I’ve never experienced that, but I have no doubt that one day, when His voice is audible to all, I’ll know it.  Even though I’ve never heard it, I’ll know exactly who it is.  It will be one of the most familiar sounds I’ve ever heard.  I’m listening for that voice.

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me”

John 10:27 KJV

God's Instrument

Not mine, but wanted to share for Pastor Appreciation day.  I'm thankful for my pastor, my dad, being an instrument of the Lord.

God's Instrument

I see the hands that hold God's word 

And fold in prayer to seek His will. 

I see the feet that walk the path 

And offers of praise as from lofty hill.

I see the hands that serve Him well, 

The ears that seek to hear His call, 

The mouth that speaks truth and wisdom, 

The busy feet that carry the message to all.

I see the heart that was priked and entered 

When God's man answered the gospel call 

And yielded His life as a humble servant, 

A man who is willing, as was Apostle Paul.

I see all of this as he stands in the pulpit, 

An instrument through which God speaks 

The words of wisdom, of love and peace, 

To lead and guide all those whom God seeks.

by Judy Crowe

Cider is Good, Too!

       Every year, we take a field trip to the local apple orchard.  We get to do and see lots of things while we’re there and learn about how apples grow.  The owner of the orchard was telling us all about the apples.  She was saying that if an apple falls off the tree, they don’t pick it up and put it in the basket to be processed and sold.  She showed the boys and girls how an apple gets bruised when it hits the ground.  She said that most people when buying apples don’t want the bruised ones…they are no good.  BUT, she went on to say that they use the fallen ones to make apple cider or slushies, because for that, it makes no difference if they are bruised and less than perfect.

        I don’t know about you, but I’m sure glad that the Lord likes “cider”.  There are so many things that bump and bruise us along the way.  Sometimes we all together fall off and hit the ground.  Even though passerbys may discard us, my owner and Creator sees some possibility.  I haven’t quite figured out what use He sees in me, but I’m sure glad He does!  So it’s okay that we might not all make it onto the showcase floor with bright shiny perfectness…the Lord likes cider too!  ;)

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters”

Colossians 3:23  NIV

He'll Go First

        I was watching my niece and nephew climb a big tower of hay bales.  There were lots of kids playing on it and they were having a blast.  Lainey is pretty tall and just climbed right up.  Jack, a little younger and smaller could move easily around the first 2 or 3 levels, but after that, it was too steep for him to climb.  He would try to get his leg up there, but he was just too little.  Lainey, seeing that he was having trouble, climbed down and would pick him up (the best way a 5 year old can, lol) and put him up a little higher.  Then she would follow and do it again at the next level until he was at the top having fun.

        On the way down, he would try to slide but still, he was too little.  Lainey came over and said, “Just wait, let sissy go first and I’ll help you.”  She would get down and then turn around and help Jack down.  Then do it all over again.  Watching this, I thought, poor thing has to be tired from all that packing, but she didn’t let it show…she kept right on helping, no matter how many times he wanted up or down.

        I thought about my life and circumstances in it.  How many times there’s been a little hill or mountain I’ve had to climb or come down from, but I came up too short.  I couldn’t do it on my own.  How many times I’ve felt His hand placing me where I needed to be to move up a little higher.  How many times I’ve heard His voice saying, “Just wait, let me go first and I’ll help you.”  It didn’t matter how many other people were climbing, His attention was on me.  It didn't matter how many times He had to do it.  Thank you Lord, for seeing my need and going first, only to turn back and carry me!

“…you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a father carries his son…”

Deuteronomy 1:31  NIV

“Called to the Carpet”

        We “go to the carpet” a lot in my classroom.  We talk there.  We sing there.  We dance there.  We listen there.  I love reading to my kids and they love listening on the carpet.  When I say “come to the carpet” it’s almost a race to see who can get there first and a struggle to get as close as they can to my rocking chair.  Sometimes I have to back them up a bit so they don’t get their fingers smashed, that’s how close.  J  But as they listen, the ones who are closest will sometimes do things like touch my shoe or boot or rub the hem of my pants of skirt.  They aren’t really doing anything, they just like to feel that closeness.

        There’s a song that a group from our church sings, “Look for me at Jesus’ Feet”.  When they sing that song, I think of my kids sitting on the carpet.  It feels like a race down here, but when He “calls me to His carpet” I’ll drop everything in a split second and make my way to His feet.  I plan on getting as close as I can to His throne…He might have to ask me to back up a little.  But I’m gonna sit as close as I can and maybe just run my fingers over two nail scarred feet.  I might take His robe and just rub it in my hand.  Because just like that song says,

“Don’t look ‘neath the gates of pearl.       

Don’t look on the streets of gold. 

Don’t look by the walls of jasper. 

Nor among  the many sights untold. 

For I’ve been longing and I’ve been waiting. 

For the precious Holy one to see. 

There I’ll be through the countless ages. 

Look for me at Jesus’ feet.”

“And stood at His feet behind Him weeping, and began to wash His feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed His feet…”

Luke 7:38  KJV