CHOICES!

Yesterday was an interesting day out here in the “Green Country” of northeastern Oklahoma.  It rained with the occasional accompaniment of thunder and lightning on and off throughout the day and therefore I had decided to forgo Fiver’s and my longer walks to the neighborhood park.  Instead, we enjoyed the confines of our newly fenced backyard.  So, I tossed balls to him, chased him, laughed a lot and got plenty wet in the process!

Today’s forecast looked pretty much the same as yesterdays, so I made the decision to change things up a little bit and take him out early, in the break between storms.  On the way we met one of our neighbors who was walking with her two young children, most likely taking advantage of the same quiet before the next deluge hit.  We’ve met on many prior occasions and her soon-to-be five-year-old son always stops and asks if he can pet Fiver!

During our brief interlude this morning, the subject of school came up and I happily interjected that my wife had home schooled our kids.  (You know me… I’m always looking for an opportunity to sing the virtues of Piper!)  Well, she gave me a surprised but yet excited look and mentioned that she has just begun homeschooling her son!  That led to a fun conversation about study materials, curriculums and the importance of teaching your kids the love of reading.

I jokingly… but yet kind of seriously… mentioned that I have all of Piper’s school materials that she collected over the twenty-two years of her teaching career and to let me know if she needed anything!

I asked her what led her to make the choice to homeschool and we talked for quite a while on that particular subject.  On the way home from Fiver’s and my walk, following our chance encounter with our neighbor, I got to thinking, once again, about all the choices that we are faced with on a daily basis in our lives.  Some of those choices being big and complex while others are quick, small and simple!

My usual routine of quickly reviewing some of the scriptures that I had studied earlier in the day before I turned the light out last night, turned into a longer than expected time of Bible study, prayer and intimate conversation between me and God.  I had read from the book of Romans where the Apostle Paul makes the astute comment that, “Those who are motivated by the flesh only pursue what benefits themselves. But those who live by the impulses of the Holy Spirit are motivated to pursue spiritual realities.” (Romans 8:5 The Passion Translation) 

I mentioned that during my conversation with my neighbor, that my thinking was “once again” reminded about choices, and this was the origin of when that thought occurred.  When I had read that verse, I immediately began to think about all the choices that Piper and I had to make throughout the last twelve years of her life.  From medicine choices, medical procedures to follow, medical equipment to purchase, life-style choices, who and/or what we were going to listen to, all the way down to what kind of attitude that I would choose to have each and every day… and that wasn’t even the half of it!

WHEW!  That was a lot of choices!  With all of them, I began to see that there were different people within our daily contacts of family, friends, medical personnel, neighbors, church members as well as  some complete strangers we met along the way, that regularly inferred that we should follow their advice.  And while most of the suggestions were given as friendly ideas, others were more forceful and adamant.

As I thought about it last evening from the standpoint of Romans 8:5, I slowly understood that it seemed like the more forceful individuals were, in reality, trying to get me to choose between their ideas and the ones that we believed that the Lord had told us to adhere to.  We had to decide whether their ideas were correct or what we believed to be God’s.  Some of their suggestions felt more like demands and sounded as if they were inferring that their advice or needs at the moment, were more important than my wife’s!

And I have to tell you… when it came down to making the right choice… Piper’s needs and God’s directions ALWAYS came out on top… NO QUESTIONS ASKED – NO DISCUSSION REQUIRED!

How do you handle all the decisions and/or CHOICES that you are faced with every day?  Have you established certain parameters, truths, guidelines, beliefs, agreements (or personal contracts like the Covenant of Marriage… in my case) or other responsibilities that will ALWAYS get FIRST CHOICE?  If you’re anything like me, then I bet you have!  If not… well, maybe it’s time to start!

Simply Amazing!

In amazement the Psalmist spoke to the Lord in Psalm 139:14-15 declaring that “You alone created my inner being. You knitted me together inside my mother.  I will give thanks to you because I have been so amazingly and miraculously made. Your works are miraculous, and my soul is fully aware of this.” 

When I read this last night I immediately thought about Piper and found myself shouting out “She sure was all of that!”  But almost immediately, I heard that familiar voice on the inside of me whisper, “What about YOU…” and I found myself at a loss for words!

Then I realized that God is including ALL OFF US in that declaration of truth!  Both YOU and me!

What do you think about that?  God made you SPECIAL.  You are hand-crafted by Him.  You were amazingly and miraculously made!  Maybe it is time to concentrate on this reality of YOURSELF… than all the negative things we tend to dwell on!

Oooh!  I like that!  How about YOU?

Back to Our Roots

Piper and I followed and financially supported certain worldwide Christian ministries for many years.  Some from the beginning days of our marriage that I still support today.  Others, although we still believed in the message they taught and the good work around the globe that they were doing, tended to slide a little bit under our immediate radar, although we would occasionally catch them on TV, read an email or see an article about them on social media.

As the months have turned into almost two years now, since Piper moved through the veil into the wonderful realm of heaven, I have sensed the Lord impressing upon my heart, the need to reconnect with some of those ministries from our past who had much to do with the establishment of the firm foundation of our personal faith.  I most definitely believe that this is all a part of His divine plan for the healing of my shattered heart as I slowly proceed through the process of re-entering into life and the plans and purposes that He still has for me to pursue on this earth.

In Philippians 4:9, the Apostle Paul encourages us to “Follow the example of all that we have imparted to you and the God of peace will be with you in all things.” (The Passion Translation)  When I read that verse, I hear the Lord instructing me to go back to my Christian roots.  I briefly described some of Piper’s and my Christian experiences and training in my last post (“Certainties” 7/23/20) and although some may seem unrelated to each other, they all had the common core of agreement with the ministries I mentioned above… and a lot more of them!

I can see the Lord wanting me to re-settle the foundation of my faith.  Especially now that my long-time partner is no longer at my side and has left a large and unsettling void in the balance of that equation.  Does that make sense?

Yesterday I was listening to a sermon given by one of our favorite ministers from our past who is based in the deep south.  He was teaching on one of those core scriptures found in Mark 11:22-24 that is so important to the methodology behind Piper’s and my strong and active faith in the supernatural abilities of God in and through His Word.  I’ve always been amazed at how something as quick as a fifteen-minute clip of the teaching of the Word spoken in season, can quickly bring peace, calm and a sudden understanding to parts of life that up to then, had been very confusing!

I had been asking the Father for some wisdom and direction concerning a few important steps that I feel are necessary for me as I continue on with life.  But I know enough in this stage of my Christian walk to NOT move until I get a sense of where He is leading me… and that is where the difficulty has been… I haven’t been hearing or seeing anything!  I have been told on more than one occasion that I am a patient man… but this seemed ridiculously long and my patience has been wearing pretty thin!

But as the Minister was repeating verse 24 where Jesus said, “Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them” (KJV) a light suddenly went on in me in many different directions!  I literally jumped in my desk chair and startled the dog laying on the couch behind me in the study!

Certain phrases and words in that verse seemed to pop out at me and I saw some instant directional steps that I should take.  In one request that I had made, I realized that I needed to make a correction and be more specific in what I was asking of Him.  Praise the Lord!  I’m planning on watching that video again this afternoon to make sure that I didn’t miss anything!

So, what am I rambling about here today?  I guess that I am trying to point out that sometimes it is profitable to go back to your roots when needing to branch out into something new!  Many times, I have heard men describe their wives as their “better halves” and I’ve come to realize that they are right about one thing… when their spouses are no longer in the picture… as in my case… you most definitely DO feel like HALF of you is missing!

So, for me to go back to my roots, is to go back and reaffirm and re-establish that part of my foundation that I used to share with Piper.  It is like I must re-balance the basics of me across the whole of who I am now… as a newly single individual.

 

What about you?  Are there places in your life that you may need to re-establish or re-balance by remembering the roots that made you who you are today?

Hummm… that could make for an interesting exercise… just as it has been for me!

Have a great weekend… and in whatever needs to be adjusted in you… keep expecting God’s best!

Certainties

As I sat on the edge of my bed and reached for my Bible early yesterday morning, I had the sudden thought of “the CERTAINTIES of the Bible.”  Those words caused me to pause in the darkened room and allowed me a moment to consider what that phrase meant to me.  When I glanced at the little New Testament in my hand, I could see the shadows of the many Post-It notes that I had placed in the book in order to mark scriptures that were meaningful to me over the last few months.

And that is when it hit me!  I realized at that moment that there are many verses of scriptures within that book that hold a high level of CERTAINTY to me.  When I look at those tagged, underlined, highlighted or circled verses, as Piper liked to do, I realized that I had already decided that those particular promises are true and will work for me when I release my faith in regards to them.  In other words, I have a definite EXPECTATON that those words are the written Word of God that is CERTAIN to work in my life for the particular situation or need that I am actively believing for them to fulfill for me.

Hebrews 11:1 tells us that “Faith assures us of things we EXPECT and convinces us of the existence of things we cannot (yet) see.” (God’s Word ©)  When it comes to those particular verses, my EXPECTATIONS are high and I find that I am thoroughly convinced that my situation will have a positive result. 

In the book of Colossians, the Apostle Paul encourages us “to continue to advance in faith, assured of a firm foundation to grow upon. Never be shaken from the hope (or better translated EXPECTATION) of the gospel you have believed in. And this is the glorious news I preach all over the world.” (Colossians 1:23 The Passion Translation)

I also realized when I laid back on the bed next to the dog who was contentedly lying there after enjoying the snack I always give him following our daily pre-dawn adventure into the backyard, that I already have pre-formed CERTAINTIES concerning the Bible every single time I pick it up! 

Whenever I reach for one of my over 50 translations on the bookshelves in my study or downloaded into my computer Bible Study program, I do so with the CERTAINTY that this book IS the Word of God, was written by men of old who were divinely led and inspired by the Holy Spirit, is THE FINAL TRUTH on any matter under the sun, and is the book of LIFE and LIGHT that I will do my best on a daily basis to obey as I seek personal guidance, physical and spiritual strength, peace, joy, grace and bountiful portions of His Love to interact with and splash onto anyone I come into contact with each day!

Years of personal experience, training, education and 48 years married to the most spiritually sensitive individual that I have ever had the honor of knowing, has worked together to establish my foundation of CERTAINTY that assists me in understanding the Bible as I do.  Today, I found myself recounting Piper’s and my unique Christian background, experience, training, education and ministry involvement that contributed to that CERTAINTY that was deeply established in us. 

Our individual backgrounds, me in Catholicism, and Piper with the American Baptist Churches of the West, led us to become involved, while attending Chico State College, with the InterVarsity Christian organization on weekdays and Sunday services at the Catholic Newman Center on campus, with an occasional visit to the country Pentecostal Church in nearby Paradise, California.  After college, we came back to town and jumped into to a total submersion in ministry at her Baptist Church for close to ten years and then found ourselves serving in various other churches from the Assembly of God denomination, Foursquare and the Word of Faith… and throughout it all, we attended countless classes, seminars, conferences, camps and Bible School.

Now some people might call our background a crazy, mixed goulash of a seemingly unrelated mishmash of experiences, events and activities … but Piper and I always saw it as a heavenly planned and orchestrated SERENDIPITY of EXACTLY what WE needed in order to fulfill the particular and unique calling that our Heavenly Father directed us to fulfill in our life together!

And I think that the same could be said for each of you.  Never allow yourself to think that someone is better suited for, trained, educated or prepared for than you are, for something that you feel led to go after.  For each of us are blessed with a unique blend of life experiences that makes us who we are!  It also helps us to understand the reasoning behind the CERTAINTIES we may or may not have for what is written in our Bibles.

Got a pen and paper handy?  I challenge you to take a few moments to quickly jot down some of the CERTAINTIES that you feel are established in you when you read your Bible.  Those CERTAINTIES are the foundations that you’ll use to understand the gospel truths that you will put into motion in your lives!

Have a great rest of the week!

Treasure

You got to love living in Oklahoma!  I just came in from mowing the front lawn.  I went out about 10:00 AM and the temperature was in the low 90’s with 54% humidity.  As I look at my temperature gauge now, about an hour and a half later, the heat index makes it to be 99 degrees.

As I stood at my workbench while restringing my string trimmer when about half-way through the job, with the garage door open and fan blowing, I was literally pouring sweat down my forehead, arms, legs… and embarrassingly… down my shorts… WHOA!  I sure don’t remember that happening in California (but I do in North Carolina… Okay… maybe not the shorts part…)!  But you know… I still love mowing lawns and being outdoors, no matter how warm it gets!  People at the Home Depot store that I used to work at in Tulsa, would shake their head at me because when given the choice, I always opted to work in outdoor garden rather than being stuck in the air-conditioned indoor section of the department.

There is just something about being outdoors.  That is why I took Piper outside every day, no matter what the weather was… both summer and winter… up to the week before she moved through the veil to her heavenly home.  She as well as me, shared a love for the great outdoors!

I spent a considerable amount of time yesterday reading about “treasure” in my Bible as well as online.  What first caught my attention was a scripture in Matthew 6:21 from my Passion Translation where Jesus stated: “For your heart will always pursue what you value as your treasure.”  That thought brought back all kinds of memories of Piper’s and my life together from the beginning days to the very end.  We learned very early on that we treasured God and His Word.

Hopefully you pick up when reading my blog posts, that we got pretty excited when it came to stepping out in faith by putting our total trust in His Word while believing for certain needs to be met, asking for wisdom and knowledge in the midst of difficult situations, and even for the little… what some might consider to be mundane things… like which pair of shoes should I get?  I had to laugh the other day when I went with my youngest daughter and her family to Bass Pro to get a new pair of hiking boots. 

While looking at the shoes on display, I leaned over to JoAnna with a big smile and pointed out a pair of Colorado boots for women.  I remembered that soon after Piper and I got married we went to a sporting goods store to get us some boots and we each returned with a pair of Colorado brand shoes.  Well… as good as they looked on our feet… they ended up being terrible!  You know how you reason that they’ll get more comfortable with use?  Well, these didn’t!  I eventually wore mine out despite the weight and discomfort, but Piper wore hers just a few times and they sat in the bottom of the closet ever since.  I wouldn’t be surprised if they are packed in one of the boxes still unopened in my back bedroom!  Needless to say, we got better at hearing the Lord’s voice for clothes and shoes after that!

Throughout our years in ministry at the various churches we served in, we learned about all the different kinds of “treasure” that people pursued in their lives.  Most were good and added value to their lives, but every-so-often, we’d come across some folks who followed some very destructive pursuits that needed to be addressed.

I have often times written about how different individuals reacted when faced with the physical reality of Alzheimer’s with Piper.  There were times when it was very easy to see where people’s “treasures” were.  Those who actively treasured God as their hope in the midst of the situation seemed to be drawn to us… to Piper.  They’d stop in the store or parking lot, doctor’s office, at church or at a family gathering and talk to her or me and encourage us. 

While others who either knowingly or unknowingly treasured something of value other than God, tended… in stark words… to RUN from us!  I can’t tell you how many times people suddenly changed directions with their cart in the aisle of the grocery store when they saw us, or turned their heads in order to avert making eye contact with Piper or me or crossed the street when we were out for one of our daily walks!  Sometimes, it was so obvious that I’d burst out laughing from the absurdity of it!

After I studied the scripture for a while, I went online to read about great treasures hidden around the world, famous treasure hunters and about some of the supposed treasure curses that were associated with particular treasures.  It would seem that there is a whole world of individuals who spent their entire lives and fortunes looking for “treasure.”  From what I read, it is not uncommon for individuals who pursue the discovery of these treasures and the potential gain of untold riches, to eventually catch the” “treasure fever” and do anything and go anywhere for the chance of discovery!

Can you imagine what it would be like if each of us caught the “treasure fever” for God and the associated gain of the discoveries found within the promises of God?  WOW!  That sure excites me… HOW ABOUT YOU?

I must admit after all these years… that the building of that excitement in you, is the precise reason I write this blog!  Piper and I loved to live on the edge when it came to the excitement found in the “treasure” of God’s Word that we continually stored in our hearts.  And even though she has found the eternal treasure trove within the veil of heaven… and I am still here… my excitement for Him and His Word stays aflame and HOT!* 

I hope that you have a GREAT week and keep pursuing the treasures found in GOD and His Word!

*PS:  And the one nice difference about being HOT for God and HOT in Oklahoma, is that I don’t have to keep changing my wet shirt when studying His Word… as I did this morning when I came in… Finding your “treasure” in God is a lot more pleasant!

While...

I’ve often times thought about how my wife and I just seem to instantly connect from the very beginning of our dating days way back when in high school.  But I had the revelation yesterday… that the reason it happened that way was because we had ALREADY developed a relationship as friends over the previous year!

If you remember the story (that I’ve probably told way too many times…), she sat behind me in our English class in 11^th grade where we interacted a lot.  It seemed that we always had a difficult time paying attention to the teacher as we kept saying funny things to each other throughout the hour-long class, throughout the entire year!  I don’t remember ever getting in trouble for talking in the class, but then, we did have a teacher change half-way through the year… I wonder if we had anything to do with that?!

This morning I once again found myself thinking about our relationship while reading Psalm 40:2 where the Psalmist declares “… and now He’s lifted me up into a firm secure place and steadied me, WHILE I walk along His ascending path.” (The Passion Translation)  The idea of God doing something for me WHILE I am following Him, actively believing His Word and/or doing something for Him, got me to further understand the possibility that what we do on a regular basis… or the things that we practice in our lives… will many (if not most) times determine the outcome of the situations we face each and every day.

As that thought percolated through my mind, it dawned on me, that from that very first day of school in September of 1969, when I was automatically drawn to that smiling, freckled-faced, seemingly always happy girl behind me… that we began to develop a relationship of JOY!  And even though we did not start dating until the very first year of school in the next school year… we simply continued on from where we left off in that class… and with all the activities during that year and the following summer that we mutually participated in with our combined group of friends with whom we enjoyed playing softball, volleyball and took many trips to the beach!

I can honestly say, without any shadow of doubt, that developing our relationship of JOY was one of the easiest things for us throughout the ensuing 48 years that we were together.  It was the atmosphere we raised our children in, it was a foundation of our ministry, and I found it to be one of the most secure places that steadied me throughout the long journey we fought for Piper’s health during the last eleven year of her life. (See: Psalm 40:2)

From my personal experience, I can attest to the fact that our relationship and guiding attitude of JOY led us to experience both the best and the worst times that touched us, our immediate family, our church, our jobs, our community and our world in a very different manner than many of our extended family and friends.  Simply said, while some reacted in worry, anger, fear, doubt and/or unbelief, we tended to automatically look for the best… what we believed to be God’s best as written in His Word… as the solution to whatever we faced. 

Our focus on His JOY that we diligently continued to surround our lives with, caused us to see things differently.  And it was… and still is… the focus we steadily practiced in our daily lives… I know that I can’t help myself but to seek out and act in His JOY as soon as I get up every morning.  And knowing my wife… she is very much over-flowing with the super-abundance of the JOY of the Lord… now within in His magnificent presence… within the heavenly realm as I write this post today!

So, what things do you PRATICE in your life?  JOY, PEACE, TRUST in the LORD and an attitude that knows that God is in the business of making the IMPOSSIBLE - POSSIBLE for you?  Or… some other things that just don’t serve to make you happy, peaceful or secure in your present and future?

Thinking back to our scripture in Psalm 40:2… What kind of things do you want God to be doing WHILE you do and/or PRACTICE the things you do in your daily life?

Living Color!

I was thinking on the way back from the pond while walking Fiver this morning, that if I learned ANYTHING over the last ten years or twelve years, it is about the GRACE of God.  Awhile back I started to see that God’s GRACE toward us, is not strictly black and white but in shades of grey!  I realized through my own personal experience and that of others that I began to take notice of, that God tends to look at us as individuals… each with a unique set of life experiences, varying educational levels and special gifting's and talents.

Let me use the example of my dearly departed wife.  As I got to intimately know her over the many years of our dating, engagement and marriage, it became clear that although there were many similarities, she was VERY different from the rest of her immediate family.  Her personality was different, many of her personal likes and dislikes were different and in fact, her entire attitude of life was different.  

She had a daring, outgoing, enthusiastic and yet child-like side that contrasted to the more intellectual approach of the rest of her clan.  You would have been hard-pressed to find my wife down or negative… even when the horrendous effects of Alzheimer’s began to encroach upon her.  When others around her were sad or depressed, she was the light of encouragement and joy shining in the room!  So, for anyone to think that they could describe, judge or figure out my wife by looking strictly at the rest of her family, they would be sorely disappointed at how far off their analysis of her was!

Likewise, if God was to look at any of us based on our similarities to others, He would also find Himself to be far off from the true facts!  From what I have come to learn, God always does a thorough background check BEFORE He makes a decision and takes action!  He looks at each of us based on our own lives, our own decisions, and on our personal attitudes of the heart.  God looks on the inside… deep into our hearts before He releases His grace toward us.  In other words, the Grace of God is NOT a one size fits all!

I found myself a few years back, on the receiving end of some very negative accusations that seemed to be coming out of nowhere!  Any unbiased analysis of the facts would have easily proved that what was being said was totally false.  When I finally began to pray about what was happening, I slowly realized that I was being judged on the basis of someone else’s beliefs, priorities, personality style and life experiences.  That understanding helped me to get through and best handle the situation.

Lately though, as I have been looking at God’s GRACE again, I am finding it more and more difficult to see this wonderful gift in just shades of grey!  In the book of Acts, Luke calls it “God’s powerful grace.” (14:26)  He asks “Why on earth would you now want to limit God’s grace?” (15:10)  And then he writes of how Jesus called the Apostle Paul “to faithfully preach the wonderful news of God’s grace.” (Acts 20:24)  In the book of Romans, Paul greets his readers by telling them of how, through Jesus, “a joy-producing grace cascaded into us, empowering us with the gift of apostleship, so that we can win people from every nation into a faithful commitment to Jesus, to bring honor to his name.” (Romans 1:5 – All verses The Passion Translation)  And the more I read, the more descriptive definitions I find!

So, my point?  It is pretty clear to me, that one could succinctly state, without question… that God’s GRACE is not BLACK and WHITE, nor in SHADES of GREY… but in LIVING and ACTIVE, BEAUTIFUL COLOR!  Do any of you remember the old movie The Wizard of Oz when the scene changes from drab black and white while Dorothy was at home in Kansas, to beautiful, rich (according to 1939 standards) living color in the Land of Oz?  As a kid watching the movie in the early 1960’s at a neighbor’s house with my brother and sister, I was literally blown away!  I recall saying… or at least thinking… “WHOA!  Did you see that?” (It was the first time I’d actually seen the movie on a new-fangled color TV!)

So yeah!  God’s GRACE is pretty spectacular!  I know that when I see and or receive glimpses of His GRACE… after all these years… that I still can’t help but utter, “WHOA!  DID YOU SEE THAT?

How about you?  Do you see the GRACE of God, receive it and at times give it -  in Black and White, shades of Grey --- or in Living Color?

Have a great week!

Dreams

Last night was one of those unique times that I dreamt a lot about Piper throughout the early hours of the morning… literally up until I awoke!  The last dream seemed so real that I had to peek over my shoulder to confirm that she wasn’t there… and that it had been just a dream!

The last dream was more like an HD video of one of the most special times we had together at our favorite Fort Ross Lodge on the Sonoma County, California coastline about an hour northwest of Santa Rosa.  Aptly named, the lodge is just north of the historic site of Fort Ross State Park where the Russians established the southernmost hub of their settlements in North America from 1812 to 1842.  The restored fort is now both a California and a National Historical Landmark.  It is open to the public and holds historical events throughout the year.

The Lodge is just up the road from the fort and sits on a tall bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean.  The one drawback that we could ever find about the Lodge was that there was no direct access to the beach below the bluff… at least none that we knew of!

You have to understand… When we went on our one or two mini-holidays alone during the year, we didn’t stray too far from the accommodations.  We weren’t there to sightsee, to check out the local restaurants or shop in the local tourist stores… although we did do that on occasion when we stayed at the Inn at the Tides in Bodega Bay since everything was within walking distance.  We were there simply to relax and enjoy each other!  We embarked upon lazy, slow walks along the bluff, took lots of pictures (mostly of her!), laughed a whole bunch of a lot, ate in with the meals we purchased before we left Santa Rosa (a stop at our neighborhood Raley’s met all those needs…) went to bed late and slept in!  

The Lodge had a little store across the highway where you could rent old VHS movies to watch on the TV and video players that came with the room.    So, we usually rented a funny movie and laughed late into the night!  Ah!  What I wouldn’t give for another couple of nights with her like that again!

That particular time was always very special in my memories and the dream reminded me why!  Like I said, when we went on those holidays our attention was closely focused on each other, and began as soon as we drove the Camaro out of the driveway from our home!  If anything special could have happened, it did on that two night stay at the Lodge.  Piper had a way of enrapturing my heart and when we were alone… well, all I can say is that it felt like I was in seventh heaven!  And I know that my extra attention and the special gifts I gave her, made her feel pretty special as well. 

So, when I awoke this morning, I felt a special joy in my heart and a lightness in my being that led me to lean over from the bed and scratch the dog’s tummy as he usually is laying right next to the bed when I get up each day!

Yesterday, I joined a group on Facebook called “I Love the Sierra” and was almost brought to tears this morning when I looked at some of the recent posts that pictured the familiar scenery that is unique to that mountain landscape.  I came near to tears as I found myself fondly saying, “That was our special place!”  While Piper and I, and later the kids and us enjoyed our frequent trips to the local coast, and the many vacations in the Redwoods, any real vacation that was to be worth its salt… had to be up in the Sierras around the gorgeous lakes, mountain views and endless trees of both Sierra and Plumas Counties in northeastern California near the Nevada border.

As I looked at the many pictures today, I realized that Piper and I spent our first official vacation together as husband and wife there in 1976… as well as our last together in 2005… and a whole bunch in between before and after we had the kids!  It most definitely was a special place for us.  I’ve told the story of how we found Plumas Eureka State Park during that first winter together as we poured over a map of California that we had spread out on our hand-me-down kitchen table in our first little apartment. 

We had wanted to find someplace new, some special vacation spot that we could call our own.  Piper’s family spent many vacations at the coast while my family had spent most vacations in the California Redwoods.  So, we felt it important to start new traditions that would be unique to us and our future family.  And the first time we drove into that special park in our 1973 over-loaded red, woody Pinto wagon, we knew that we’d found just the spot!  It is also the place that I am hoping to visit again next summer so that I can spread Piper’s ashes off the top of our favorite mountain peak at 7447 feet, a little over 2000 feet above the campground in the park.

Whenever we went to those magnificent mountains, I had a tendency to feel that I could do just about anything. To dream big dreams, imagine things that defied the limitations of my natural understanding and ask of God things that seemed utterly impossible to attain.  Since Piper moved on to heaven, those kinds of things have seemed be nothing but foggy inclinations of a distant past and hopeless dreams.  But with the passing of time comes bits and pieces of healing to my soul.

I’ve discovered that the more I study verses of Scriptures like those found in Ephesians 3:20, the more I begin to sense the stirrings of possibility… God’s possibilities returning to my life once again!  I know that I talk about this verse a lot… but I am finding out that I NEED to talk about it, read it, meditate on it and put it into action over and over again in my life! – YOU MIGHT NEED TO AS WELL…

I read it over before I turned out the light last night and again at 5:30 this morning after taking the dog out for his early morning appointment with our backyard, and once again during my regular morning Bible study time at 8:00.  I then found myself personalizing from The Passion Translation, writing it down like this: “God is NOW achieving infinitely more in ME than my greatest requests, more than my most unbelievable dreams and is FAR exceeding my wildest imaginations – and then He out does them all for me, for His miraculous power is constantly energizing me… TODAY!”

I also noticed that every note that I took this morning was all about the reoccurring theme of TODAY… not of my past, not of my future, but of TODAY! 

Over this last weekend, I had the stunning revelation that since I firmly believe that the good Lord took Piper home to be with Him at just the right and perfect time… that He wouldn’t have separated us without also having had a plan and purpose that was right and perfect for me as well.  As I study Ephesians 3:20, I can’t help but think that He is trying to tell me something about how I am to access and work that perfect plan for me… RIGHT NOW… starting TODAY!  What do you think?

It is definitely enough to stir me up, to shift gears and begin to get me to focus on what He is wanting me to do TODAY.  I am thankful for my wonderful past with my most wonderful wife.  I find myself constantly thinking and saying throughout the day about how much Piper spoiled me with the way she lived her life, the way Jesus brightly shown through everything she said and did and with the way she made me the happiest, most blest man alive.  Now it is time to take the standard that she set, and pass it on to others! 

I think that things are just about to get interesting…

Have a great rest of the week and I pray that your expectations are beginning to explode just as much as mine!

Bubbles!

My soon-to-be five-year-old Granddaughter loves bubbles!  The last time she was over to my house we went through a large bottle of bubble solution within just a few moments and had a blast blowing, waving the wand and then chasing bubbles all around the yard!  She excitedly told me yesterday about a giant bubble producing machine that the children in her Children’s Church class got to play with!  Pretty special wouldn’t you say?

But when I think about it… children aren’t the only ones who enjoy playing with or getting stuck living their lives within a self-made BUBBLE!  Throughout the 36 plus years of ministry in local community churches, my wife and I regularly met individuals who lived in such a way as to defy the idea that others might think differently than they did... and if there were those who differed from them, those in their self-made “BUBBLES” did their best to stay separate from the others.

I guess if I really think about it… people in some respects, could have said the same thing about us… in fact… some did!  When my wife began to talk about her desire to home school our kids in the early 1980’s, most of our family and friends thought that she’d gone off the deep end!  They almost all began to imagine us moving to a farm in the middle of no-where, living off the land and totally separating our kids from society!  You may laugh at that scenario, but we ACTUALLY had people tell us that!  Remember too, that we lived in northern California where the mountains between us and the coast were scattered with many communes that began to pop up in those secluded areas around the time of “The Summer of Love” when bands of “Flower Children” congregated in San Francisco in the mid-1960’s.

Well… we didn’t move out of town to the boondock’s, but stayed put and became an active part of the Santa Rosa Christian School’s Independent Study Program.  In this unique set-up, the kids had to meet all the school’s and state education requirements, made lifelong friends, participated in the School’s band and sports programs and lived a “normal” life… except that they went to school at home with a personalized study program that my wife presided over with dedicated passion, constant hands-on involvement, lots of personal attention and tons of love! 

Now-a-days, homeschooling is just another valid choice of education that is offered by most city, county and private education systems… and with onset of the Corona Virus… it has almost become the schooling method of choice!  We learned early on that while my wife and I tended to thrive on taking the road less traveled, other’s around us didn’t always have the same perspective… we didn’t always fit into their “BUBBLE” of thought.

In my personal Bible Study time this morning, I put together a couple of versions of Philippians 4:4,6-7 in such a way as to better personalize and understand what I believe the Apostle Paul was trying to convey to his readers.  Combining parts of the God’s Word © and Passion Translation I wrote,

“Always be joyful in the Lord!  Don’t be pulled in different directions but instead be saturated in prayer, in the Word and in the grace of God throughout each and every day.  Offer up your faith-filled requests to God.  Stay intimate with Him and keep Him informed on every detail of your life.  THEN, the wonderful PEACE of God that transcends ALL human wisdom and understanding will guard your thoughts and emotions and make the answers known to you through Christ Jesus.”

The common thread that we witnessed in the various individuals and family’s that we met living within the type of “BUBBLE” that I mentioned above, was that seemed to be engaged in a constant struggle in their lives with WORRY, ANXIEY, FEAR and DOUBT.  On the average… they were NOT very happy folks… and not always pleasant to be around!  But on the other hand, we also were involved with other individuals and families who tended to live in a different kind of ‘BUBBLE”… one that seemed to permeate everything they said and did with an overwhelming and calming attitude of PEACE!

So, why the difference?  Well, that is simply and succinctly answered in Paul’s advice to the church in Philippi as recorded in Philippians 4:4,6-7.  One group tends to keep the focus of their lives on all the potential problems and difficulties that they currently face as well as those that they MAY face in the future.   While the others keep their attention on their ever-increasing knowledge of God’s intimate love for them as expressed through the promises in His Word.  These folks enjoy a life that stays joy-filled, positive, thankful and expectant of God’s best for them… And believe me when I say, that these people are a JOY to be around!

One thing that I have come to learn in my own life is that God’s PEACE actually has a spiritually tangible presence that I can feel in the midst of the circumstances in my life that I face while filled with the joy of the Lord that I have built up in me, through my study of His Word, the experiential knowing of His Grace and my personal expectation of Him doing exactly what He promises to us in His Word.

It is an ACTIVE FAITH that I have come to depend on and know that (like my kids and I like to say…) “This stuff (believing in the manifestation of God’s promises in my life) really works!”

I REALLY… REALLY… REALLY like it when I sense the presence of God’s PEACE in my life!  How about YOU?

Which “BUBBLE” would you prefer to live in?

244 Birthday Possibilities!

I have to admit… that I am a guy that likes… MAYONAISE!  And lots of it on my sandwiches, burgers or when I am enjoying a big delicious artichoke!  As I popped the seal off a brand-new bottle of my favorite Kraft Real Mayo this morning, I had to take a moment to ooh and awe over the thick, white, fluffy substance that was packed right up to the very top of the jar.  To me, that’s the very best time to enjoy the condiment as it comes out in thick, creamy globs that holds its form until it is lavishly spread across your piece of bread.  

This morning I layered the bread and mayo with thin sliced extra sharp cheddar cheese, two crisp strips of thick bacon and slices of a boiled egg.  My breakfast delight was then topped with a generous shake of black pepper… and the rest is history as I savored every bite and then enjoyed watching Fiver lick everything that had oozed off unto the plate!  And the best part is that the mayo, the cheese, the bacon and the egg, as well as the one carb per slice of Chompies Keto Friendly Bread, is all a part of my diet!  Ah!  Isn’t life grand!

Since my backyard fence was completed on Wednesday, I have also enjoyed going out in the quiet and relative cool of the Oklahoma mornings (today in the low 80’s) and sitting at the patio table while enjoying sips of my morning coffee.  Fiver has also enjoyed his morning freedom in the yard and loves to run, stop and sniff and then run some more while traversing back and forth across the small area… at least in comparison to what we had in North Carolina!

It would seem that we moved just in time from our country home back east.  I spoke to one of my former neighbors the other day and she mentioned that they had begun construction of the large community that was planned to go in all around our one-time quiet enclave.  It would seem that they removed almost all the trees lining the back of my former property to make room for the new homes.  The new owner removed the four foot see through fence around the back and replaced it with a six-foot privacy fence.  From what my neighbor said, the whole flavor of the former country neighborhood has changed.  

So, what can I say?  To me it is just another confirmation that the Lord had planned for that land to be the perfect choice for Piper’s and my dream home that we both got to enjoy before Piper moved on to her new home in heaven… and me to mine in Oklahoma!  That home was absolutely perfect for back then and I am assured that this new place by the golf course is perfect for right here and now!

Earlier this morning after I took Fiver outback around 5:30, I returned to bed thinking about all the impossible that God had made to be possible during our five years in North Carolina.  I can look back now and see how almost everything we did was a part and parcel of His divine plan for us.  Things at home in California were drastically different when we returned from Bible School in Oklahoma and it got to the point that we just simply needed a change, and when the Lord put a move to North Carolina to be closer to our kids on my mind in prayer one morning… well… I just knew it was right for us!  From that point on, it seemed to be one impossibility turned into a God possibility after another!

Jesus told the desperate and doubting father with the sick and tormented son in Mark 9:23 that, "As far as possibilities go, everything is possible for the person who believes."  (God’s Word ©).  Then when the father made the quick adjustment to belief in the fidelity of Jesus’ word to him and his son, the boy was able to receive his healing as Jesus spoke life to the need at hand.

I’ll admit that I had no idea what was ahead when I wheeled Piper’s wheelchair up that boarding ramp to the plane on that day back in May of 2014 at the Sacramento Airport.  But the one thing that I did know was that God said for us to “GO” and that as we trusted in His faithfulness to us through the promises in His Word… that every impossibility ahead would somehow be turned into another one of His possibilities for us.

That same trust spurs me on each day right now in the midst of my new life here in Oklahoma.  It also spurs me on to have the greatest of expectations for the future of our country in the midst of all the seemingly crazy turmoil that is going on in our land.  There is most definitely a force at work attempting to destroy* what I firmly believe to be a country established on Godly principles for Godly purposes.  Things that were once held as right, sacred, patriotic and noble are being tossed aside for lies, ideals and structures of government that (once again, I believe) are totally opposite to that of our founding fathers.

But I refuse to give up or give in!  How about you?  Since Jesus said that “…everything is possible for the person who believes,”  then I am going to upgrade my active belief in the truth of His Word overcoming the lies of the thief who is trying to steal, kill and destroy our land.*  In Matthew 19:26 Jesus also stated that, "With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." (EMTV)

So, as we celebrate 244 years of independence on this very special 4^th of July weekend here in the United States…Who are WE going to believe and base our faith in?  For me... I’m going to have to agree with Joshua when he faced the people in their newly independent nation in Joshua 24:15 and asked them a similar question… and then replied without a moment’s hesitation, “but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD” (KJV). 

Have a great celebration of our country’s birth on this special 4^th of July weekend, and at the same time celebrate God’s possibilities of overtaking the fear and lies of the thief in our midst!  I even went out and bought a new flag for the occasion!  Stay safe and keep on actively believing - for the best is yet to come!

*Sounds a lot like Jesus’ warning in John 10:10 where He declared that “The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (EMTV)