Compassion in the Strangest Places

There are certain types of compassion that just escape me. I know it’s not my gifting, but I am not the one who is going to say, “so and so just had a baby, we should start a meal train,” or “this person just lost their spouse, we should send flowers and a card.” I usually have to be reminded of these things, and sometimes it drives me nuts, because I think I should be that person.

Today, before mowing, I had to take Jake to our integrative veterinarian. Due to Jake’s food issues and medical issues, we needed to take a different approach to get him healthy. I have nothing against western medicine, but I know that there are alternatives that work as well. Jake does not like to ride in cars, and he’s pretty skittish around people, so it’s always an adventure with him.

While we were waiting for the Dr. Matt, we could hear the commotion in the other room. That dog did not want to be there, and they were growling and barking, and the owner was chastising the dog. It did not sound like a fun time. I felt bad for Dr. Matt, but I was also wondering how he was going to be with Jake after dealing with that.

The moment he walked into the room, Jake went right over to him and nuzzled his knee. He has never done anything like that before, so I was super surprised. I made an off-handed comment about how Dr. Matt was the one vet that Jake liked. Without saying a word, Dr. Matt got down on his knees, and Jake moved forward, licked his face and then placed his head on Dr. Matt’s shoulder. I was in complete shock! My super skittish dog who usually hides behind my knee at the vet’s office showed him that there were good dogs too.

So, while I mowed, I just sat back and listened to God talk…

“That’s also what compassion looks like, and you are full of it!”

I don’t understand, I don’t know how to do that.

“Yes, you do, you do it all of the time! Jake gave his vet a moment to re-center himself and see that it was all going to be okay. I have watched you just listen when people need to talk. I’ve seen you reach out when someone is injured or lost a loved one, just to see how they are doing in that moment. Compassion is not just about a grand gesture, its also found in little things like taking your neighbor some of your extra garden vegetables, bending down to be face to face as a child talks to you, or helping someone at the grocery store get an item they can’t reach. You do all of that, and I smile every time I see you do it!”

Compassion can be found in the strangest places, if you know what to look for. There are people who are designed to think of the grand gesture, and there are those of us who do little things here and there. Both are needed in God’s Kingdom. I don’t know where you line up in the compassion arena, but I know that God smiles and whispers, “that’s my child!” when we let go of the divisiveness this world brings for a moment and are kind to someone in need.

Hebrews 13:1-3

Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it. Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering.

God Sized Relationship

The chances of rain for the next two days had me mowing tonight after dinner, which is not normal for me. I love mowing in the morning and watching all of the barn swallows fly in front of the mower chasing bugs, and you just don’t get that at night. It is still fun, just not what I prefer.

I noticed that our next-door neighbors were out on their back deck, so as I drove by, we waved at each other, and what I thought I saw had me doing a double take. For a fleeting moment, she looked like my husband’s aunt Carol. When I made my next pass, they had gone inside, so all I had was that first glimpse. We lost Aunt Carol in April, and if I’m honest, it has been pretty hard emotionally. Part of me celebrates that she is no longer in pain and is with Jesus, but the other part of me really misses her. All of that made continuing to mow rough.

And then God spoke…

“Why do you push Me away during these moments?”

I didn’t even realize that I was. I guess I am just trying to walk through the emotions, and it causes me to close off.

“I’m supposed to walk through it with you, guiding you, but I can’t do that when you push me away.”

Once again, He’s right! Walking through hard times in my own strength is exhausting. Letting God guide me, even carry me through the storms of this life is a much better plan. His hugs are definitely the best thing I have ever felt.

I don’t know what you are going through, but I do know that God is wanting to travel the path with you. He wants to be the one you lean on in all situations.

Let Him!

Isaiah 41:10

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Faithfulness of God

Faithfulness of God

Where do you find God?

I have a t-shirt I wear proudly that says, “Mowing is my Therapy,” because that’s where I find God. That’s where He speaks the loudest to me. When, like today, I need to hear from God, I mow my lawn. And boy is He faithful! He met me there, and for the 90 minutes it took to mow the lower field, we talked. Honestly, it was mostly He talked and I listened, but it was the conversation I needed.

I’m not being cryptic; it is just that most of the conversation was meant solely for me. I guess, I’m just wanting us all to take a moment and marvel at the goodness of our God. When we have questions, concerns, wants, or desires of any kind, God is faithful to meet us in our greatest needs. He doesn’t always give us the answers we want, and sometimes He will leave a choice up to us, but one thing we can ALWAYS count on… He is faithful to be there, to walk it out with us, and to carry us when we can’t take another step.

So, back to my first question, where do you find God?

Is it time for Him to meet you there?

Don’t wait any longer. He is faithful, He is right there waiting.

Matthew 7:7-8

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”

Priorities

My life is one priority after another these days. How about you? After multiple weeks of being unable to mow due to weather and a bad tire, I was finally able to mow today. It should have been done yesterday, but finishing the landscaping brick work up front took priority.

As I was mowing in the lower field, I noticed that we still haven’t cleaned around the willow tree and the fireworks damage from 4 years ago has still not been taken care of. That image brought back some unwanted and scary memories, but I digress. As I began to get discouraged seeing all that needs to be done, I quickly reminded myself that while there is still loads left to do around the property, we have accomplished so much, and as a result, the discouragement did not last long at all.

And then God spoke…

“Why am I not always on the top of your priority list?”

I try, but sometimes in my humanness, I put my selfish desires ahead of Your best for me.

“How’s that working out for you?”

It doesn’t! In fact, it usually ends really bad on my end.

“When you put Me first, don’t you always get what you need?”

If you are anything like me, you are probably laughing on one side because you know God is right, and your frustrated on the other side because you know God is always right! Lately I have found myself leaning too much on my own abilities and my own priority list, and if I’m honest, it hasn’t gotten me very far.

When I follow God’s nudging and His priority list for me, my life seems to run pretty stinken smoothly. Don’t misunderstand, it’s not always sunshine and daisies, I go through hard times too, but there is an overwhelming peace in knowing that God will bring me through, because He is the one who called me to it.

So where does God fit in your priority list? If He’s not first, trust me, you are going to want to adjust… and soon!

Proverbs 3:5-6

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

Winks of God

While mowing last week I stumbled across some flowers I have never seen here. The small white one is known as Mouse Ear Chickweed. The photo is a little deceptive; these flowers are about 1/8^th of an inch in diameter, super tiny. Stunningly beautiful and found all over the United States, so not that surprising when I think about it. The orange one however, is not found in Michigan. That’s an Orange Agoseris also known as Mountain Dandelion and it is only found in the western side of the Mississippi river. It’s super common in my hometown of Golden Colorado, but according to everything I have read, it is not typically found on this side of the Mississippi. It was likely deposited by one of our many migratory birds, but I believe there is more to it than that.

For me, it was what I playfully call a “God Wink.” Just a small reminder that He sees me, knows me, and loves me.

Dealing with the loss of family, injury to and recouperation of our dog, and the back-breaking work of getting the vegetable garden in my emotions, and if I’m honest, my temper is running super thin. God knew that, and in His loving and grace filled way, He sent me a little reminder of His compassionate ways, a flower from home.

Seeing that little orange beauty brought back so many fond memories of hikes, bike rides, and long talks with friends and family from long ago. It was a tender moment of reflection on all of the things God has walked with and even carried me through. It was a time to finally exhale and let go of my burdens.

What are the things weighing you down this season? Take a minute and let God give you one of His “Winks.” I promise that wink will carry you through whatever this life has to throw at you. He is faithful and He loves you.

Always remember… YOU are HIS favorite!

Psalm 104:27-28

All creatures look to you to give them their food at the proper time. When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are satisfied with good things.

Blessing in the Waiting

First time mowing for the season is always the roughest looking cut. My neighbors have been mowing for weeks, so theirs are looking perfectly manicured and we are often the joke of the neighborhood because we start so late. But there is a method to our madness, and it’s the dandelions. When bees come out of hibernation dandelions are the food source they seek out. Without them, a lot of the different bee populations does not survive. Now, my neighbors and a lot of you don’t particularly care about the various bee species or their survival, but for those of us with large vegetable or flower gardens, bees are our lifeblood. They pollinate our plants and cause our vegetables to produce fruit. So, not only do I wait to mow, but I protect the dandelions on our property.

I was chuckling about all of this while I mowed this Monday, and I couldn’t help but realize how I’m the same way as my neighbors when God asks me to wait.

Lately, life has been tough for my husband and I. We’ve lost multiple family members in the last few months, and our fur baby had to have major surgery on not one, but both of his rear legs, leading to a 10-to-12-week recovery process during gardening season. I know God is asking me to trust Him with all of this, and I’m trying, but I’m wanting to rush the process, and get this season of life done now. God has shown that it is not time yet, fear of loss still has a hold on me, and I have to walk, not run, through the process.

The blessing in all of this…

God has made it perfectly clear that He fully intends to sit with me, side by side through this storm until fear does not own me anymore. It’s looking rough, just like this first cut on the lower field, but the warmth of resting in God’s loving arms is a blessing that fills my soul to overflow! In all of this, I know, the fruit on the other end of this struggle will be the sweetest it could ever be, and I have to be patient in the waiting.

What is that thing you are trying to rush through? Is it time for you to trust God with not only the process, but the timing?

Wrap yourself in His love! I promise there is no better feeling on the planet!

Philippians 1:3-6

I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Praise in the Storm

Today is my 58^th birthday, and I am sitting here holding hands with my aunt as she prepares to spend eternity with Jesus. Now some might say how sorry they are, or others might reference how horrible that would be, but if I’m honest it is one of the biggest blessings I have ever been privileged to go through. My mother-in-law, Sister-in-law and I have been staying with her in shifts and as God would have it, this afternoon and evening are mine.

Usually when I talk about her, I refer to her as my husband’s aunt, but for the past 35 years she has been my aunt too. From teaching me about hard work, cement crafts, painting, the benefits of feeding wildlife, the proper way to play euchre, to gardening tips and tricks, she has been there for me as much as my husband. And now I get to honor her as she gets ready to put on her new body. Not many people can say that they have been given a gift like that.

I guess you could say it’s all about perspective, and in many ways, you’re right. But, there is a reason that God asks us to praise Him in the storms of our lives. In the darkest moment of Job’s life, the loss of all of his children, Job mourned and then he worshipped. In that moment Job realized that God had been with him through it all, He had been in each and every moment. When Job needed to be held, it was God who wrapped him up in loving arms, and Job knew that. When his children were born, Job knew that they were a gift from God, and he knew that when they left this world God was with them as they walked from this world into the next.

Getting to spend this time with my aunt, I can feel God in the room. I know without a doubt that He is walking with my aunt preparing her for what is to come, and I celebrate that. I worship and praise the knowledge that God loves her so much He is slowly carrying her into eternity with a gentleness and love that I can only dream about.

And because I trust and believe in all of this, I consider it a blessing to be gifted this opportunity. I’m not sorry, and it’s not a hardship; it is one of the best birthday presents I could ever be given. I will praise Him through this storm.

Job 1:20-21

At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship and said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised.”

Protected Bravery

Since the weather finally decided to lighten up a little bit, Jake and I got to go for a little walk. Any time we are by our family’s house on our way home, Jake loves to stop in and say “Hi!” so we took a little break. As we were all chatting in the dining room, Jake was checking out the squirrel population coming up to snack on peanuts. This particular one seemed to have no fear, knowing that there was a pane of glass separating predator from prey.

Seeing the freedom in the closed eyes of the squirrel, God spoke…

“This is what the freedom of My protection looks and feels like. You know that right?”

I can’t say I’m that fearless, but I trust in Your protection.

“Why do you give predators that much power?”

I trust you, but I struggle trusting me.

“Child, you have to accept that My protection is more than enough.”

Oof… As always God is right His protection is more than enough, and it will never fail.

I have a tendency to look, in this case, at Jake, the predator. If he wanted to, Jake could break through that glass, and there is an element of fear in knowing that. Alone, I am not strong enough to overcome it and God knows. What God wants me, and you as well, to see, in this case, is the glass that separates predator and prey, and know that when God is that glass, it will NEVER break. Trusting in His protection is enough for us to be brave and face this world with a confidence that we can overcome anything the predators throw at us.

But first, we have to BELIEVE and be confident in that belief.

Friends, join me in not only saying out loud, but knowing out loud that God is enough and we can overcome ALL things!

Mark 9:23

“‘If you can?’ said Jesus. ‘Everything is possible for one who believes.’”

My Expectation Vs. His Abundance

Earlier today my husband and I were in the garden picking dried bean pods so that we can get them processed and ready for the winter soup and stew season. This year Bob built a beautiful hoop trellis to use for the pole beans and we separated it out into 4 quadrants and planted a different pole bean in each quadrant. Three out of the four: 1500-year-old cave bean, papa de rola, and Cherokee trail of tears, developed rapidly and the plants began to climb the trellis while the fourth, mbombo green, lagged behind and we didn’t expect much from it; it still grew and developed, just a lot slower.

The 1500-year-old cave bean went gang busters early and tried to take over all four quadrants and we had to diligently train it to stay in its own area. With help it did, but we noticed that it was not producing any bean pods while the other three were loaded with pods, even the slow growing mbombo green had a multitude of pods which far exceeded our expectations. As September hit, still no beans; a beautiful plant, but no fruit. Bob and I had decided that we would put the cave bean on the “do not purchase again” list and began harvesting the already drying beans from the other three. Mid-September we saw that a handful of pods had started to grow. We hoped that we would at least be able to get enough to make a single stew and justify what we paid for the seeds but weren’t expecting much more.

Color us completely surprised when we went out today to pick more of the dried ones from the other three beans when we discovered that the 1500-Year-Old Cave Bean aka the Anasazi bean has been busy producing dozens upon dozens of pods. If the frost holds off until late October (which it is supposed to) we will have an incredible abundance of this beautiful heirloom bean.

You can hear God chuckling right now can’t you?

“This is what My abundance looks like! You were ready to settle for the bare minimum, TWICE. You were even thinking of pulling the plants early… you’re welcome by the way.”

I don’t know about you, but I am forever expecting so little from God and He is always far exceeding what I think possible. I want to dream bigger, but it’s a struggle. The positive side of that however, is that in these moments I realize just how blessed I am to be loved by a God who loves to lavish gifts on those who believe. I also know however, that it is possible to expect more and still see how blessed I am. What can I say, I’m a work in progress!

Ladies and gentlemen, set your expectations higher and take a moment and delight in the gifts that God lavishes on you daily!

Ephesians 3:20-21

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”

God Winks

A question I get asked a lot is what I do after service on Sundays, especially when I have the opportunity to preach. My answer is that it’s dependent upon what is on my to do list. It could be a quick run to the grocery store, starting laundry, working on a craft, vacuuming, windows etc. And sometimes I have an opportunity for the lovely Nazarene nap, which is usually the case following preaching. I cannot say that I have ever felt a need to mow on a Sunday; that is one of those “during the week” tasks.

Today, I had a list of things including putting together 3 days of Jakes food and getting them frozen. It was strange to be sitting there letting my lunch settle before launching into my tasks when God whispered…

“Let’s go mow!”

Two hours earlier I preached at Vassar about living in God’s Grace and being obedient to His call, so now I have a quandary… practice what I preach, or take care of my to do list…

You bet I jumped on that mower! I wish I could have captured the shocked look on my husband’s face when I asked if there was gas in the mower, it was priceless! He shook his head and said, “I guess a nap is out of the question, grumble, grumble, grumble.” But I know he took a nap as soon as I started mowing, so all is good.

Driving back from Vassar this afternoon, I heard this song on the radio, “God Winks” by Annie Bosko and I absolutely loved it, so it was the first song I put on my playlist. I was mowing along, when I noticed that two dragonflies were flying alongside me, then a duck flew by really close, then I saw that the majority of the boats had gone home for the day and the lake was almost empty. I couldn’t help but smile, it was so peaceful and so beautiful.

Then God whispered again…

“Do you remember in 2012 when you followed My call on your life and started doing the work to become a pastor?”

Yes

“I’m so happy you made that move. Are you?”

Most of the time. Sometimes when we have weeks like this past one, its hard on the heart. But I’m learning to trust You in those times.

“That’s My daughter! Last week was hard for Me too.”

When life gets tough, sometimes we just simply have to sit back and just exist. Taking that break to mow was exactly what my tired heart needed and God knew it and He gave me a God wink when I did what He asked. I still got my list done, just a little later than normal, and I get to begin my week with a smile and a Wink.

What is He asking of you? Will you say yes? The Wink will make you smile, I promise!

Zephaniah 3:17

“The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”