Springtime!

I was greeted this morning, as I opened the living room blinds, by the sight of a hard freeze as evidenced by the white roofs on all the houses within my view.  I don’t know about you… but I am still waiting to welcome in the actual beginning of spring… ever since my hope was peaked when I saw the line on my calendar from a week ago Monday, that read “First Day of Spring.” 

As I opened the front door each morning this week and prepared to step outside for Fiver’s and my early stroll along the golf course, my excitement of seeing bright blue skies instantly vaporized as I swung open the heavy glass storm door that separates the entryway from the porch.  The shocking reality of cold temperatures and icy northern winds caused me to quickly toss off my baseball cap and replace it with a warm knit wool stocking cap!

I had high hopes that today was going to be different as I had noticed that last night’s forecast for this morning predicted warmer temperatures and minimal winds from the south.  But you know… I just had to wait another hour or so for that prognostication to come true.  As the sun rose higher in the sky, the hard frost quickly dissipated and the dog and I were able to take an enjoyable walk with a light coat and my San Francisco Giants baseball cap… so we’ll see if my revitalized excitement for the REAL spring weather holds true!

The frost on the house tops wasn’t all negative though!  The one thought that its sight brought to me this morning, was the verses of scripture that I have been studying in the Old Testament book of Jeremiah.  The namesake of this book began his prophetic ministry during some golden times in Israel’s history that soon evaporated into very difficult times when the God-fearing king Josiah was killed and Israel was subjected to years of persecution and captivity by Babylonian Empire.

When the Lord first began to talk to Jeremiah about his ministry call, He encouraged the young man by telling him of the authority that He was giving to his office and informed him that: “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth….” And then asked Jeremiah saying,

“What do you see?”  To which Jeremiah answered, “I see a branch or shoot of an almond tree [the emblem of alertness and activity, blossoming in late winter.]”  And the Lord replied, “You have seen well, for I am alert and active, watching over My Word to perform it.”  (Jeremiah 1:9-12 – AMP-C)

According to notes in The Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges, “The almond tree in Palestine has been compared to the snowdrop with us, as giving one of the first signs of approaching spring… and hence he (Jeremiah) correctly sees in this harbinger of the spring a sign that the hard frost is about to break and new life to spring from the soil.”

So therefore, even though Israel would go through many years of hardships and troubles and things didn’t look too good for the nation at that time, God basically showed the prophet that springtime was just around the corner!  That the hard frost of tribulation was about to break and new life would spring forth from the soil.

Which relates directly to how I was disappointed when I looked out the window this morning.  I was anticipating that I would see the results of warmer weather but instead was faced with a hard frost on the rooftops of the homes in my neighborhood.  But while my hope for spring was put on hold for another day, my faith in the coming of warmer days was not dashed.  A quick glance at the multiple weather apps on my phone all agreed that consistent warm weather and the excitement of Oklahoma lawns coming out of dormancy for a promising new season of greenery and growth, is literally just around the bend!

The sight of frost and the picture of the blossoming of the olive tree also makes me think of our personal lives.  We all go through different seasons of life… some when we are blossoming in most everything we do… and others where the cold frosts of life take the center stage.  But just like the promise of spring, we take our trust in the natural cycle of life and more importantly… in the promises of God’s Word that always gives us a hope for a brighter future... for those sprouts of life that push their way through the hard soil in the gardens of our lives!

So, you know what I think?  I think that we should all choose to take the Lord’s encouraging words directly to heart, to take the time to study and learn of His promises to us and then… believe for and EXPECT him to call us by name and say…

“ “____________ (put your name n here) You have seen well, for I am alert and active, watching over My Word to perform it.” 

Then look for the sprouting of new growth everywhere you need it to manifest itself in your lives!

Have a great rest of your week, and as you do… keep EXPECTING the BEST of the springtime of God in your lives!

Big Redwoods - Big Blessings

As I stood in front of the mirror shaving this morning, I glanced over to my left and focused for a moment on the California Redwoods State Parks poster that I had purchased and framed many years ago while living in North Carolina.  I turned off my electric razor and scooted over in front of the poster and got lost in the good memories that tickled my heart.

The poster depicts a drawing of a pathway meandering through a beautiful grove of tall coastal redwoods with filtered sun rays shining through the canopy and a young couple standing together and enjoying the majesty of the view surrounding them.  And while I cannot tell the actual location of the drawing… I know that I have been there countless times as a child camping with my family and then later in life with my new bride as well as a few years after our honeymoon, with our four smiling, excited and wonder-filled family of little camping enthusiasts.

It could be any of the many Redwood Parks that we visited over the years, but in particular, it brought the strongest remembrances of the marked trail from the campgrounds to the camp store at Richardson Grove State Park, a few miles south of Garberville in northern California.

As I focused on the young couple in the background, I couldn’t help but to picture Piper and I on our honeymoon as we traversed the trail from our tent site in the Huckleberry campground to the camp store.  Our eyes gleamed with excitement of the adventure that laid ahead for us… not just for our future together… but for the treasures and keepsakes that we could discover at the store that would mark our first camping adventure as husband and wife.

The store had a plethora of handmade redwood burl items on display and I clearly remember proudly holding onto the hand of my precious bride as we Oohed and Aahed our way throughout the small store.  I know that we bought many different items that day, but the only one that I specifically remember… and the only one I still have… is a beautiful redwood burl chalice style candle holder that we proudly displayed in our living room throughout all the following years… including the current one where it graces Piper’s piano today!

Every time I glance at that distinctive work of art, I immediately think of the ever-increasing love that Piper and I shared together… and with that love as a physical example that is forever inscribed upon my heart, I think of and can’t help but to become thankful for the love that my Father God has for me and all of His children.

Lately that most powerful force of God’s love has been repeatedly expressed to me through various scriptures that I’m sure we are all very familiar with, beginning with a verse I shared in my last blog post* when Jesus compared Himself to that of the Good Shepherd and declared,

“I am the Gateway. To enter through me is to experience life, freedom, and satisfaction.  A thief (ie; the devil) has only one thing in mind—he wants to steal, slaughter, and destroy. But I have come to give you everything in abundance, more than you expect—life in its fullness until you overflow!” (TPT)

And then there is Ephesians 3:20 where Paul excitedly encourages us by teaching that God,

“is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power (of the Holy Spirit) that works in us.” (NKJV)

As I was pondering these verses and many more yesterday morning, I had the sudden inspirational thought that the abundance of God in the form of “the fulness until it overflows,” and the “exceedingly abundantly above” is actually the LOVE Nature of God in operation in and through our lives!  It’s just like the love that I had toward my wife.  I didn’t just want to be nice to her and give her nice things… my heart’s desire was always to go way overboard!

I’m reminded of the Super Walmart in Fuquay-Varina where we did our weekly grocery shopping in North Carolina.  The store was conveniently set up to where we had to walk past the women’s department in order to go from the parking lot entrance where I liked to park (that gave me the most room to maneuver Piper in and out of the car and into and out of her wheelchair) to the grocery section of the store.

Which… in my love for my wife… always caused me to keep an eye out for an article of clothing or an accessory that I could buy for her.  Which is funny now, because I have multiple, BRAND NEW coats, sweaters, hoodies and pants… neatly folded in a couple of wardrobe boxes that she NEVER even got to wear!   I guess you could say that my heart was bigger than my than my self-control!  And what’s even funnier to me… Is that I am still tempted to stop and go through the racks of women’s clothing and accessories at the Walmart where I now shop here in Oklahoma… even though she has been in heaven for over 4 years now!

But that’s because I want to be like my Father in heaven who loved you and me SO MUCH that the gospel of John records that,

“God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (EMTV)

God didn’t just GIVE… but He gave his BEST!  He gave His ONLY son to a world that didn’t even deserve His love!  That is how SPECIAL and OVER-THE-TOP that His love is for you and me.  He doesn’t just give with an abundant heart… but with a heart and attitude that OVERFLOWS with the kind of love that is EXCEEDINGLY ABUNDANTLY ABOVE ALL!

The more we enter into a close and loving relationship with Him, the more we will experience God’s intent for us… Which is that He not only wants to bless those whom He loves… But to do so with an overflowing abundance that comes in,

“good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over…” (Luke 6:38-KJV)

And then with that example ever before us… He wants us to do the same!

Like you… I want to shower those I love with blessings… Just like my heavenly Dad does toward you and me!

Have a terrific weekend, and as you do… Keep EXPECTING God’s abundant BEST… and then likewise… give of your BEST to someone you love!

 

 

*http://pjberruto.blogspot.com/2023/03/i-have-to-allow-it.html

I Have to ALLOW it…

I have learned a lot since my wife’s passing a few years ago.  In retrospect, the Lord used Biblical precept and examples to show me the “WHYS” to the way certain things happened, why different individuals responded the way they did and most importantly, His reasons for the specific Biblical pathway that He had us to follow during the years of Piper’s battle with Alzheimer’s.

Lately though, His leadings have been more along the lines of my responsibility to continue in the pursuit of the life and callings that He still desires for me to accomplish.  I recently came to the hard fought understanding that this next stage of my life is highly dependent on me and how much I will ALLOW the Lord to have His way in my future!

The fight has mainly been a battle fought on the inside of me!  For the first time in my adult Christian life, I have found myself questioning the validity of God’s Word where it is repeatedly stated that

“with God nothing shall be impossible.”*

The questions and natural reasonings bouncing around in my mind have all just seemed to be too unsurmountable for me… like how can anybody or anything be as wonderful, exciting, meaningful and as precious to me, as Piper and the life that we had together?  We tended to operate like one in all that we pursued and experienced as a couple, as parents, ministers and in most other areas as well!

But as I find myself arguing with the Lord in prayer, it becomes increasingly confusing when He agrees 100 percent with me and backs up His comments in the scriptures… but then pauses and says… but there is more and it can be even better than all you can expect or imagine!  Really?  How is that even possible?

Well… it must have something to do with John 10:9-10 where Jesus said,

“I am the Gateway. To enter through me is to experience life, freedom, and satisfaction.  A thief (the devil) has only one thing in mind—he wants to steal, slaughter, and destroy. But I have come to give you everything in abundance, more than you expect—life in its fullness UNTIL YOU OVERFLOW!” (TPT) 

The King James Version translates the last sentence of Jesus’ statement saying,

“I am come that you might have life, and that you might have it more abundantly.” (personalized)

The modern Passion Translation uses multiple words to describe and or define what the King James explains as life “more abundantly.”  And as it turns out, the original Greek phrase does infer a deeper understanding of what Jesus was actually saying.  The term is defined as “superabundant, (in the sense of going beyond), something further, surpassing, uncommon, extraordinary and to one’s advantage.”

The Remedy Bible says that Jesus came “to give life—complete, full, and abundant—beginning here and now.”  The Message says that He gives us a life that can be a “more and better life than we ever dreamed of.”  And in the Bible in Basic English, it is said that we “may have life and have it in greater measure.” 

So, it would seem that He desires me… and all of us that for that matter… to move on from the set-backs, the difficult times and the losses of people, things and dreams that have been close to us…  and ALLOW Him to have His way… for it is the way that brings us into an even greater, more enjoyable and fulfilling place than we could have ever conceived to be possible in our lives… at ANY AGE… even at 70 like me!

The Scriptures 2009 Bible, in discussing the life that Jesus came to give us, agrees with the above point and states Jesus as saying “

“I have come that they (you and I) might possess life, and that they (you and I) might possess it beyond measure.” 

You see, I am painstakingly coming to realize that this abundant, even better life, is fully available to us… BUT that it is totally up to us to RECEIVE it!  Jesus has made this even better future available to us, BUT it is up to you and me to humble ourselves and open our hearts to His ways, follow His directions and then POSSESS His promises.

I had to come to the place where I told the Lord that while I don’t understand it, I want what He has promised me and am willing to OPEN myself up for Him to come in and teach me what I don’t understand about this.  I’ve asked Him to humble me as I break away from my impossibility thinking… and at the same time… encourage and embolden me to POSSESS and be able to live in the fullness of life that He desires for me… RIGHT HERE and NOW!

What are your thoughts about this?  Are there areas in your future that you’ve always felt were impossible for you to attain?  Does your past look far better to you than the future you imagine?

Well then, this post and Jesus’ words in John 10:9-10 were written just for you!  Study it, believe it, make it a personal promise to you and then humble yourself… while you ALLOW Him to be the GATEWAY to a future filled with the promises of fullness… that only your trust and submission to Him and His ways can provide!

 

*See: Matthew 19:26, Mark 10:27, Luke 1:37, Luke 18:27 et al.

The FINGERPRINTS of God

Well… I celebrated a major milestone yesterday with the beginning of my 7^th decade on this earth!  I will readily admit that this birthday gave me lots of reason for concern… concern for a whole new future to explore without my most trusted, respected and loved companion at my side.  Let’s face it, from my teenage years and every succeeding decade since then, we dreamed, prayed, planned and then pursued those visions - hand in hand, in step, in agreement and with a united purpose.

But all is not at loss… for it has been a little over four years since Piper’s homegoing and I have spent numerous hours praying over, working through and at times… crying through… the shock and pain of loss and then be able to capture the beginning glimpses of a bright future filled with the expectancy of the plan that I firmly believe the good Lord still has in mind for me to fulfill, here and now.

Proverbs 15:15 informs us that,

“Everything seems to go wrong when you feel weak and depressed. But when you choose to be CHEERFUL every day will bring you more and more JOY and FULLNESS.” (TPT) 

I was telling a relative of Piper’s in California recently, that it seems like just yesterday when Piper and I got in trouble by the principal of our high school, for holding hands, when he spotted us walking in front of the school during the lunch hour.  For some reason, he did not like the image it would give people driving by the school… but yet it was okay to hold hands on campus away from the public view?

As would become the pattern of choice throughout the coming years of courtship and our eventual long marriage, Piper and I chose the path of a cheerful life and had a hearty laugh when the principal turned around and stomped purposely back to his office.  I can still see the funny look on Piper’s face as she raised her eyebrows (out of his sight of course) and gave me a look that said… “Wasn’t that a hoot!”

Throughout the 48 years of our relationship, we always chose the path of JOY and CHEERFULNESS.  We quickly discovered, through our underlying faith in God and the truth of His Word, that a smile would do much more in the midst of any situation, both easy or difficult, than a frown that can easily lead to despair and depression.

As Fiver and I took our first morning walk of my 70^th year yesterday, along the municipal golf course, under the canopy of a bright blue sky and cold, but yet strangely refreshing, blustery northern winds, I found myself thinking over the previous 69 years of my life and suddenly had the most interesting thought…

Out of the recesses of my mind, I pictured the new police procedural drama that I have been binge watching on the UP Faith and Family streaming service, where three of the main characters are a detective, his beautiful German Shepherd police dog partner and the unit’s Forensic Scientist.  And with that background leading my thoughts, I looked over at my trusty, four-footed, furry friend Fiver and said… “You know… if they were to do a spiritual forensic examination of me and my life, I bet (I hope!) that they would find the FINGERPRINTS of God all over me!”

I think that this discovery is something that each of us would desire to be found, if such an examination was performed on us… Don’t You?

As I moved forward with that theory in place, I began to picture all the various incidents where I could see the direct intervention of the hand of God in my life… with memories coming as early as a Kindergarten graduation program where I sang a solo in front of all the parents, and then throughout my elementary years, teen years and then increasingly more prevalent throughout my adult life… up to and including that very day where I celebrated my 70^th Birthday.

In Isaiah 64:8 the prophet prayed,

“But now, LORD, you are our Father. We are the clay, and you are our potter. We are the work of your hands.” (God’s Word ©) 

Think about that for a moment!  God not only uniquely formed each of us with His own hands, but routinely touches us and the situations that we are involved with… throughout the course of our lives… as we,

“Steep our lives in God-reality, God-initiative and God-provisions. (and) Don't worry about missing out. (for) We’ll find that all of our everyday human concerns will be met.” (MSG - personalized)

So therefore… if I look to the future decades that the Lord allows me to inhabit on this planet… with a similar spiritual forensic report as the previous six decades, I can honestly predict rewarding experiences - with the ever-increasing imprints of the FINGERPRINTS of God on me and my life!

HOW ABOUT YOU? 

What will your present and future Forensic Examination Reports say?

Have a terrific week, and as you do… Keep EXPECTING God’s BEST while you continue to find the places where He can leave His FINGERPRINTS on you and your life!

The Many Good Things!

Over the many years in my positions in secular management as well as in Christian ministry, I have oftentimes heard, when talking to individuals, that a successful marriage takes a lot of WORK!  I also remember a Pastor that we served under in the late eighties who had a favorite saying that “Ministry is spelled W-O-R-K!” 

And while I understand that the majority of these folks meant for their statements to encourage commitment, mend wounds and rekindle excitement, they many times… if not the majority of times… seemed to come across with the feeling that it was hard, exacerbating and a boring and difficult part of the relationship or job that each individual involved would simply have to live with.

But as for me… well… those conversations usually elicited a smirk, followed by a smile on my face… which at times tended to irritate the people I was conversing with!  You see… when you’re talking about marriage and ministry… you’re talking about two of my FAVORITE things in life!  And I would reply that YES, it took WORK… but what FUN that work was!

In our last blog post, I quoted a verse of scripture in I Corinthians 2:9 where the Apostle Paul taught the church by declaring that:

“This is why the Scriptures say: Things never discovered or heard of before, things beyond our ability to imagine—these are the many things God has in store for all his lovers.”  (TPT)

And I put forth the question, in reference to his concluding statement that “these are the many things that God has in store for all His lovers,”

“Can it really be that Simple?”

Well… for me, the answer would be a quick, simple and unwavering YES!  Does that mean that it is easy to achieve?  NO!  As with any decision of great value, it takes much commitment, consistency, wisdom, courage and counsel.

The writer of Proverbs 15:22 wrote,

“Without counsel purposes are disappointed: but in the multitude of counsellors they are established.” (KJV) 

I mentioned a few of my favorite things above (and NO, I am not going to burst into a round of Julie Andrews singing about my favorite things ♫…).  Those favorites were my marriage to Piper and Ministry.  When I wanted to know more about Piper, like how she was doing at any given time, her dreams, ambitions, likes and dislikes, etc; I would go to her and talk directly to her.  Talking to each other was one thing that we did really well… and enjoyed… so we did it a lot… every day in fact!

When I needed to know more in my ministry, I would go to my Bible and seek the various counsel of Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Peter, Paul and the other writers of both the Old and New Testaments.  Depending on the need, I would also seek counsel from our Pastor, from other mature man and women of God that I respected, from books, conventions, and from other qualified sources. 

Simply put… I guess you could say that I liked to keep in the KNOW!  Both Piper and I wanted to stay ahead of the game and not fall backwards in our progression of life.  The Good News Bible tells us in this regard that,

“Wise people walk the road (or path) that leads upward to life, not the road that leads downward to death” (Proverbs 15:24)

If you’ve ever hiked up a mountain, you know that it takes a good amount of dedicated effort and W-O-R-K to get to the top!  One of my favorite all-times hikes is climbing the path up to the top of Eureka Peak within Plumas Eureka State Park in the Plumas National Forest in northeastern California. 

It is about a 2000 foot upward climb from the campground to the top.  And there is a spot about ¾ of the way when I always have to STOP and make the determination that I will push through my burning knees, as the path steepens, and successfully make it to the top… where the 360-degree gorgeous view is well worth the effort… and temporary discomfort to my joints!

So, YES!  It takes WORK… just like in my marriage and in my ministry call… but it is the kind of WORK that I enjoy.  And even though I know that parts of the plan and process are not going to be easy and maybe more than just a little bit uncomfortable… physically, spiritually, mentally and/or emotionally… I choose to take on an attitude of confidence with joy in the great EXPECTATIONS that it is well worth it… when it comes to accessing and enjoying “the many things God has in store for His lovers!”

NOW… Don’t YOU agree?

Have a terrific rest of your week, and as you do… Keep EXPECTING God’s BEST as you put out the effort to access and enjoy the “the many things God has in store for YOU!”

 

Can It Really Be That Simple?

My wife had a very black and white, and some might say, “child-like” understanding of God and His Word.  For her it was simple… If God said it, that settled it and she believed it… and then acted as though it were so in her life!  As I’ve stated many times in this blog, her personal expression of her faith in every area of her life was one of the first things that attracted me to her.  (Her cute looks, outgoing personality and gorgeous smile didn’t hurt either…)

I came from a devout Catholic family, and while I definitely had a deep love for God, I didn’t really know anything when it came to the revelations in God’s Word that were so evident to her.  I wanted what she had… so once we got married and I joined her Baptist church, I got serious about learning the principles and promises that were contained between the pages of the New American Standard Bible that Piper had bought me while we were attending College.  I got involved with a men’s Bible study group, accepted the position of Youth Minister, and along with everything else we participated in at the church, started reading every Christian teaching book that I could get my hands on!

With all of that working for me… it didn’t take me long to start understanding the Gospel message in much the same way that Piper did.  And what can I say?  We just seemed to blossom from there!  We both grew more and more excited about the potential and possibilities that our faith in God’s Word could produce in and/or through our lives.  Best of all, we tended to feed off each other, keep each other built up and challenge each other to stay at the top of our game!

When we came across scriptures like Philippians 4:13 that says “we could do all things through Christ (and His Word) who strengthens us” or Mark 9:23 where Jesus said “all things are possible to him (or her) that believes…"  Well…we believed it and began to seek the Lord to see what seemingly impossible things He wanted us to do for Him.

And through the decades now, since our beginnings in the 1970’s, I would have to say that our black and white and… what I’ve since learned that the Bible actually describes as a GOOD thing… our child-like faith in the Word of God, continued to grow and mature!  I still get excited, like I did this morning, when I read confirming verses of scripture like I Corinthians 2:9 where the Apostle Paul wrote to the members of the church imploring them that,

“This is why the Scriptures say: Things never discovered or heard of before, things beyond our ability to imagine—these are the many things God has in store for all his lovers.”  (TPT) 

Did you happen to notice all the plurals described throughout that verse?  Paul is talking about a plurality of scripture verses (both Old and New Testaments) that promise God’s hand in helping us to discover multiple things that most people would consider beyond ones ability to even imagine… and then boldly declares that these are only some of the things that God has in store for those of us who love Him and thereby put our trust into Him and His Word.

Could it REALLY be that simple? 

Well, that’s the exact question that many people over the centuries, including Piper and I back in the mid 1970’s, have asked and received a resounding YES!  I mean, think about it for a moment.  Why else would the various writers of the books of the Bible, writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, all agree and then repeat it over and over again?

When I hear our verse above talking about “things beyond our ability to imagine,” my mind automatically translates it to say, “things that are beyond our natural inclination to imagine.”  And it is that natural inclination in each of us that can STOP us from venturing on into God’s realm where He has many, many things (man’s impossibilities*) for us to explore, to accomplish, to succeed in, and to enjoy.

Our inclinations can be… and most likely are… very different than other individuals, as we are all unique products of our environments, have differing personality traits, varying levels of education and distinctive life experiences.  But it doesn’t really matter what they are… because God wants to set us free from operating there and move us into His supernatural realm of unlimited possibility in our lives!

Can it REALLY be that simple?  

What does the Bible say?  Do you believe it… or not?

Have a great weekend, and as you do… keep EXPECTING God’s unlimited BEST in, for and through your life… unto others!

 

 

*Mark 10:27

Harmony!

If you have kept up with my blog posts for any amount of time, you’ll know that the twice daily walks that I take with my dog Fiver, act not only as times of exercise, but also for personal inspiration and revelation.  And yesterday morning… well… it happened again!

I had been watching some old Knight Rider episodes on my Blu-ray player over the weekend and was reminiscing about how much both Piper and I wanted to get her a black Firebird Trans Am, back when that show was popular.  We test drove many cars and even put in an order before deciding it probably wasn’t going to be the best fit for Piper and the needs of our growing family.  Then a few weeks later, we found her a brand-new (literally right off the truck) maroon red, 1983 Pontiac Bonneville wagon (with mags of course)… and the rest is history!

On our walk yesterday, I was not only thinking about that particular adventure, but also of the set of circumstances that opened up the door for us to buy the next two cars that we owned after the Pontiac had brought us many years and many miles of excellent service.

A lot of life had occurred during the ensuing Pontiac years, including job changes, two new churches and a move into a new house.  The 1990’s were winding down and I had just received a big promotion at work, accompanied by a major increase in pay. 

As Fiver and I walked, I mentally reviewed the events that came together at that time, remembered the raise and, without much thought, spoke out “Yeah, that’s right!  My income had tripled with the new position at work…” and before I took another step, a bell went off in my head and I automatically corrected myself and stated, “Our income, not mine!”

Well, I stopped so quickly at that thought, that Fiver’s preoccupation with sniffing was disturbed and he gave me a look that seemed to say “What’s Up?”  His response caused me to laugh but didn’t sway me from my thoughts… and as my gaze absent-mindedly drifted off to some golfers in the distance… I realized that with Piper and I… it was always “WE!”  Then I chuckled again as the term popped into my head and I told Fiver that Piper and I, from the very beginning our relationship in high school, lived in a “Wee World!” and not in a “ME World.”

I would say that we sought to live our lives in HARMONY with one another.  It was the unspoken plan for us and the course we set as our family grew and matured.  Being as we were both musicians (Piper much more skilled and trained than me), we were both very sensitive to any dissonant sounds that played out in life.  

It was one of the first unexpectedly rough experiences that confused and frustrated me when Piper was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s.  Not only did I have to deal with the notes of dissonance that were occurring in Piper’s physical body, but also with the DISHARMONY that different people, either knowingly or unknowingly, brought into our lives as they attempted to “help” us with what they considered to be “sound advice,” or at other times… just plain criticism.

Jesus told us in Matthew 5:48 to,

“Live in HARMONY with God’s design for life: Be perfect in love, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.” (Remedy) 

In accordance with what Piper and I learned, I believe that Jesus is instructing us in this verse to live a “WEE” (we) life with Christ in all that we do… instead of a “Me” life that is focused on self and leads along a path of fear and selfishness*

Jesus is describing someone who is striving to live their life in an ever-growing HARMONY with God’s perfect design for their life...  which is His design or will, that is clearly detailed in His Word.  The various writers of both the Old and New Testaments make it pretty clear that men and women, boys and girls, were not designed by God to live in this world alone. 

Whether some people like it or not, we were created to have a satisfying life in HARMONY or fellowship with God!  In this regard, I John 2:14 tells us that,

“Your fellowship with God enables you to gain a victory over the Evil One.” (The Message) 

After having supervised within some of the fabrication areas at Hewlett Packard for many years, I now find that I am very sensitive to annoying background noises.  For example, it gets very uncomfortable for me when cooking dinner and running the exhaust fan over the stove, while attempting to watch the news or other programs on TV… and don’t get me started… if that one super-sensitive smoke detector at the peak of the vaulted ceiling should go off! YIKES! (Fiver hates that one too!)

But thank God that there is a solution to solve this problem… I simply don my fancy, noise canceling, wireless stereo headset that lets me enjoy whatever I am listening to without the painful effects of background noise.

In some respects, I think that this is a good example of what happens when we stay in close fellowship with God.  Putting on the stereo headset of His love, His truth, His joy, His peace and His grace, cancels out the disturbing and sometimes hurtful background noises in the world and allows us to not only hear the pure HARMONY of a life in perfect pitch to the tune of God’s design for your life… but also to enjoy it!

So YES!  I would reiterate again, that Piper and I lived in a “Wee World,” where we worked diligently to stay in HARMONY with each other throughout our time together.  But our key to the sustaining sound of that HARMONY was our individual and joint HARMONY with God and the truth of His Word.

I have to admit that one of the main reasons that I enjoy listening to Southern Gospel music is the beautiful HARMONIES that many of the quartets and other artists are known for.  It is comparable to the timber of HARMONY that I like to hear and enjoy in the activities and encounters of my daily life…

How about YOU?

Have a fantastic rest of your week, and as you do, seek to stay in HARMONY with God and keep EXPECTING His BEST in your daily life!

 

 

*See: James 1:25 / Remedy Translation