To Know Him is to See Him

"among my family"

Genesis 24:41

My sister and her family were in town last week, and every time they visit, they try to do some touristy things in Southern California, so that my nephew can enjoy seeing and doing new things. 

On this trip, one of the things they did was whale watching.  And my daughter went with them, because she's studying Marine Biology in school this year.  My brother-in-law took copious pictures of course, because whales and dolphins are beautiful, and my nephew is adorable. 

And while I was looking through the pictures, I noticed something fun.  Many of them were my nephew looking out at the water, with his back to the camera.  Some of those times he was with my daughter, and despite the fact that neither of them were looking at the camera, I knew immediately who they were. 

I know their details so well, that even though there were sixty-some-odd people on that boat, I knew these two.

Now, of course, you're saying, "Naturally you recognize those people, because of course your brother-in-law was taking pictures of people you know.  Why would he take pictures of strangers?"

But then I show you this one:

See that dolphin?  That was the point of my brother-in-law's photo.  But there are also four people in the picture.  Three of them are strangers to me, and one is related.  You don't know which one.  I do.

Well, you might know, too, if you're also related.  Which a couple of you are.

The point is that those I love, I know.  I know them well.  I know their voices, their body types, height, etc.  I can pick out my boy when he's out on the baseball field with eight other boys, and I know my daughter's walk coming down the hallway. 

There's an old Jewish proverb that says that disciples should follow their rabbi so closely, that they would be covered with the dust kicked up by the rabbi's feet.  Don't you love the visual there?  Don't you love the idea of being so close to Jesus that you know Him at a glance?  That you could pick Him out in a crowd?

That's a lot of what reading the Bible does for us.  We get to know Him in those pages ~ whether Old or New Testament.  Then we recognize His truth when we hear it, and we are conscious of His ever-presence with us. 

When I look at those pictures, and see people I'm crazy about, I feel happy inside.  I feel love.  This is the gift that relationships are for us.  This is the same feeling we should have when we remember His love for us, and His nearness.  He knows us.  We should know Him, too.

~ "the world neither sees him

nor knows Him;

but you know Him,

for He dwells with you

and will be in you" ~

John 14:17

~

Just One

"not one sparrow falls to the ground

  apart from your Father's will"

Matthew 10:29

Baseball season is now in full swing {get it??} and the weather has now become Early Summer in Southern California.  I'm hopeful, however, that winter will come back for a visit before it's completely gone.

So last Saturday I found myself sitting in a lawn chair on a beautiful day, delighting in green grass and blue skies and 13 and 14-year-olds enjoying America's pastime. 

And I found myself keeping score.

Now, I love keeping score.  When my family goes to baseball games, I generally keep score.  I guess I just like the numbers, and getting completely involved in the details of the game.  But I am not a regular scorekeeper for Little League.  Partially because I don't think I'd be as reliable as they'd like a team scorekeeper to be.  The Apple of my Eye always assistant-coaches for our son's team, which means if there's a baseball/volleyball conflict in our schedule, I'm with our daughter at her tournament.

But the other reason I've never volunteered to be a regular scorekeeper is that I'm not sure I would be able to do it to their specifications.  I kinda have my own way of making notes.  I'll give you an example of my style, but first here's a crash course, in case scorekeeping is new to you.

Each position has a number.  Pitcher = 1, Catcher = 2, 1B = 3, etc.  So when an out is made in the field ~ say, the batter hit the ball to the pitcher, who threw it to the first baseman for the out ~ that would be marked as 1-3.  A fly out to the centerfielder would be F8.  Fairly simple, right?

But some scorekeepers like a lot more markings in the box.  Maybe a line indicating where in the field the ball was hit; maybe an indication if a runner advanced due to a stolen base, wild pitch or passed ball, etc.  So I'm not sure my way of scorekeeping would be what they want.

Also, I have been known to indicate the circumstances of an out on the basepath this way: "4-5, DBR".  That means that the 2nd baseman threw it to the 3rd baseman to get the runner out, with an assist to Dumb Base-Running on the part of the runner.  My dad taught me that.  But you're not gonna find that in the Official How To Keep Score handbook.  If there is such a thing...

At any rate, it was fun for me to keep score, with my hubby guiding me as to how the team wanted it done.  I like the feeling of notching every at-bat on the score sheet.  I like the idea that every little thing is an accomplishment in some way.  Even a strike-out can be encouraging if the boy swung instead of just standing still.  But there are very few strike-outs, so almost everything is good.

And line by line, box by box, hash mark by hash mark, I watched the game play out.  But it's so much more than just a game.  It's a series of very small achievements.  \ \ \ \ ...  One in the "At Bat" box.  One in the "Hit" box...  Batters come up one at a time, and I was acutely aware of each one.  I was appreciating each one.

Here's my point... My kitty died a few days ago.  She was in our lives for almost ten years, and then suddenly she was gone.  I was with her as she passed, and that evening we buried her in our backyard, under the apple tree.  It was sunset at the time, which was lovely, and as we all stood in the backyard, and I had one arm around each of my kids, I heard a noise above us.  It was the wild parrots who live in our neighborhood, squawking and screeching as they flew overhead.

They show up most evenings when the weather is nice, always around sunset, and often we run outside to try to see them.  They are primarily green, with a little blue and red, so they are really hard to see when they are in the surrounding eucalyptus trees.  So when I get a really good glimpse of them, I'm excited.

I looked up, and there were about six of them, flying low down, easily seen.  I looked up, happy to see them as usual.  But then I thought that even as much as I thrill to hear and see these beautiful, exotic birds, if one of them were missing, I wouldn't know it.  There are as many as 20 of them at any one time, and if one of them died, I would have no way of knowing.  And I felt unexpectedly guilty that I couldn't fully appreciate each lovely bird.

In a way, I think it's for the best.  I'm grieving the loss of my sweet, soft, little companion, and if I had to feel the loss of every critter in my habitat, it would be a weight I could not bear.  And I wonder how He does it.

It leaves me grateful for His knowledge of each of us.  His love for each of us.  You are His beloved, each one of you.  Just as she was mine.

~ "the very hairs of your head are all numbered.

Do not fear therefore;

you are of more value than many sparrows" ~

Matthew 10:30-31

~

One More Thought on the Olympics

"this poor widow

has put in more than all;

for all these have given

 out of their abundance,

but she out of her poverty"

Luke 21:4

I don't know about you, in whatever country you live in, but sometimes it's a little frustrating to watch the Olympics in the U.S.  NBC seems to be convinced that we are only interested in American athletes.  Of course I'm interested in the U.S. athletes, but I also love getting to know new names, and hearing their stories.  Sometimes I even remember them from previous Olympics, and find myself rooting for them.   I think NBC has gotten better about giving us a more global look, but I still felt like I was missing stuff.  I would especially love to hear more national anthems.  I heard the Russian, and the Norwegian, but I think that's it, other than the U.S.

The other that that kinda bothered me was that every night they'd show us the Medal Count {hear impressive fanfare here}.  They would show the top five countries, which were the same every night, although they changed places several times over the two weeks.  But I'd be thinking about that athlete from some smaller country that took a medal in some event that day.  I thought about how thrilled that country was to have their first medal of the games, or maybe their first gold medal ever.

And more than once, when I saw the U.S. at the top, or near the top of the "leader board," I thought, "Well sure we've won a lot of medals; we've got a lot of people!  Odds are we're gonna have the ability to produce several excellent athletes."

So I went looking online, and found what I wanted.  A list of medal wins as it relates to population. 

Norway is number one.  Twenty-six medals, with a population of slightly over five million.  That's the equivalent of one medal for every 190,000 people. 

Number two?  A country that won only eight medals.  Slovenia.  But they have a little more than two million people.

Austria and Sweden came in third and fourth, with 17 and 14 medals, respectively.  And number five?  With only three medals?  Latvia.

I'm so fascinated by looking at it this way.  It is such a wonderful perspective, and it celebrates how important that medal or two must be for that country.  How proud they must be of that athlete!

The U.S. comes in 21st on the list.  Twenty-seven medals, 313 million people.  The only countries below us on the list are Great Britain (4 medals), Japan (8), Kazakhstan (1), Ukraine (2), and China (9).  All of a sudden, it seems like our grand medal total is not that impressive.  (Only Russia had more medals than the U.S.)

I think, for me, it brings the accomplishment down to a more personal level.  It makes me think about the individual athletes, and how proud their families must be.  And I think that's more like how God looks at it.  He knows each of us so personally.  He knows each one's perseverance, and what they went through on the road to winning.

And He knows the name of every loser, too.  He knows each one whose equipment failed them, or who slipped at a crucial time in their event.  And He knows the ones who tried to make it to the Olympics, and failed.

Jesus praised the widow for giving much, though she had little.  He sees what we have to give, and what we give out of what we have.  And what seems like a small accomplishment to the world, means much more to Him.

~ "There is neither Jew nor Greek,

there is neither slave nor free,

there is neither male nor female;

for you are all one in Christ Jesus" ~

Galatians 3:28

~

Who are you? Who, who, who, who?

"who do you say that I am?"

Matthew 16:15

Are you a labeler?  You know, the way some people label things in their pantry, or in their garage?

I'm not crazy about labels.  I mean, I understand them.  I've seen very impressive storage systems, like in friends' garages, with matching plastic bins, each neatly labeled.  But then when I thought about doing the same thing in my home, it seemed pointless, because I already knew what was what, and where it went.

And even if it wasn't me who was putting something away, I didn't think labels were necessary because isn't it obvious what goes where?  Just put things back where you got them.  Or, if that's where you pulled that canned good from, then that's where that product goes when you're putting away groceries.   Simple, right?

Apparently not.  Certain members of my family seemed to have trouble remembering where things go.  Frequently.  Seems simple enough to me... maybe they're missing a chromosome or something....

Oh, I kid.  And it's okay; I know they're working around my flaws, too.

Anyhow, awhile back, I asked for and got a label-maker for Christmas, and labeled some shelves and bins and things.   In the interests of family harmony, you understand.  But I'm still not crazy about labels.

I find I feel the same way about being labeled.  I have always been uncomfortable with the idea of people thinking I'm something I'm not.  For instance, I have never said of our family,  "we are homeschoolers," but instead as "we homeschool".  No difference?  Perhaps.  But what picture do you get in your head when you picture a homeschooling family?  Nine kids?  A mother that doesn't wear any makeup?  A family that sews all their kids' clothes and grows their own food?

There are homeschooling families like that.  I've seen them, I've read about them, and I know a couple.  But to be honest, in Southern California, they're not real common. 

What about if I call myself a Christian?  What do you expect?  A certain pattern of behavior, and a specific role in society.  I am a Christian, of course, but that might not include what you think ~ other than being a follower of Jesus Christ.  That part is true.

Just a few weeks ago, a friend who has a three-year old, asked a group of women of varying ages, with kids of varying ages, what was "okay" when it comes to Halloween.  For several long seconds, no one said anything.  And I knew it was because we all have a different thought on that subject, and no one wanted to judge anyone else.

I am a Christian, and a homeschooling mom.  I'm also a Republican, and a Californian and an introvert.  But you could stand me next to someone with those same "labels," and find dozens of differences in how we manifest those aspects of our character.

Labels are limiting.  And far too simplistic for creatures as complex and fascinating and layered as human beings are.  They only give a peek.  And they often don't allow for change.  I have been a Christian all my life, but I am a much different person than I was twenty years ago.

I think this is why I've always been intrigued by the concept of God giving His children new names ~ Abram --> Abraham...  Sarai --> Sarah... Jacob --> Israel...  He was recognizing that they were changed.

The more important thought, though, is not about labeling one another, but about how we consider Him.  I mean, if I think humans are complex, what does that make Him?

It makes Him perfect.  Complete.  And always all of who He is.

~ "To whom do you belong,

        and where are you from?" ~

1 Samuel 30:13

~

Eric Liddel and Creamed Corn

"to you it shall be for food"

Genesis 1:29

Okay, so remember all this?

A bountiful harvest in our kitchen, yes?  But it wouldn't all fit in my fridge, and it wasn't going to last long sitting on my counter!  So my kids and I got to work making the most out of it. 

The first thing to tackle was the corn.  Almost 30 ears of it, and starting to get a little dried out, so I decided the best course of action was to cream it, to infuse it with the moisture it had lost.  Then I could freeze it, and when I reheat it, I'll do so in cream, which will plump it up some more.  Then a little salt and maybe a teaspoon of sugar, and yum!

So I got to work.  First, I had to shuck all the corn, and then I had to remove it all the kernels.  For that, I had a special tool.  A very fun, very devoted tool. 

It's called a corn stripper, or a corn zipper.  I also saw a variation called a Kernel Kutter.  But that seems a little too cutesy to me.  If you look closely, you can see the two little teeth on it; in the middle, pointing toward the handle?

You could, of course, do the same job with this good old-fashioned tool:

And I've done it that way many times in the past.  But a few years ago, my mother-in-law gave me a corn stripper in my Christmas stocking, and it's very effective.  More so than doing it with a knife.  A little neater, too.  The kernels don't fly so far and so high as they do with a knife. 

But more than being good at its job, what I love about my corn stripper is how happy it is. 

Just look at that face!  Such joy in doing what he was created to do!

And that, made me think of Eric Liddell. 

I know.  But as I say 

to my sister:  I can't help where my mind goes.  

Eric Liddell. The Scottish missionary, and Olympic runner on whom the movie "Chariots of Fire" was based.  A great story about a great man ~ far greater than they were able to depict in a two-hour movie. 

In that movie, Eric Liddell said, "I believe God made me for a purpose, but He also made me fast.  And when I run I feel His pleasure."

I love that line.  I suppose it's possible the man never said that line; that it was written for the movie.  But I am still inspired by it.  I, too, can feel God's pleasure when I do the things I was created to do, like mothering, and writing, and maybe one or two other joys. 

So as I prepped that corn I thought about Eric Liddell, feeling God's pleasure.  And I thought about that happy little corn stripper, smiling as he did what he was created to do.

We should find joy in being who He created us to be, and in doing what we are gifted to do.  But more than that, we should find His joy. 

~ "And whatever you do, do it heartily, 

as to the Lord and not to men,

knowing that from the Lord

you will receive the reward of the inheritance;

for you serve the Lord Christ." ~

Colossians 3:23-24

~

The Produce Aisle

"the produce of the land"

Genesis 41:34

I've been feeling productive lately.  And you know what's got me feeling that way?

Produce.

Which just seems right, that produce would lead to productivity.  Or does productivity produce produce?

I love the English language, don't you?

Anyhow, this is the produce that has me producing:

I got it all from church a few weeks ago.  When we were doing our Vacation Bible School.  As I think I mentioned, the theme was a farm theme, so there were fruits and veggies as "decor" in the kitchen area.  And when the week was over, and everything was getting cleaned up, someone asked me if I wanted the vegetables.  It was a lot, but I didn't want them thrown away, so I said sure!  And my kids and I took home a plethora of potatoes, apples, onions, oranges, lemons, peppers and corn.

It had all been sitting out for several warm days, so I knew none of it was at its best.  So after my Awesome Girl took a few pictures of our bounty, I got to work caring for it. 

In some cases it needed to be processed immediately (i.e. chopped and put in the freezer) and I'll share some of that in future days.  But other things still had plenty of life in them, they just needed to be stored properly to extend that life.

As I found homes in my kitchen and garage for all these blessings, I thought about how different they all are.  The onions and potatoes need someplace cool and dark, the tomatoes need someplace cooler than that, but not as cold as the fridge.  The corn needed to be refrigerated in a hurry if there was going to be any chance of salvaging it. 

Apples and oranges and lemons are pretty cooperative.  They'll sit in the counter in a bowl ~ even together if you want ~ looking pretty until you're ready to eat them.  But not for too long, and not if the weather's too hot.  They have their limits, you know. 

The bananas, too, will do better on your counter, but you should separate them from each other, and they'll last a shorter time on the counter than those others. 

In addition, carrots, berries and mushrooms should not be washed before being stored.  Melons like room temperature, pineapples don't care but they should be stored upside down. 

And on and on.  They are not created equal and you have to know what's best for each one, if you're going to get the best out of them. 

So it is with us.  You're zucchini and I'm asparagus.  Or, you know, whatever.  You're creative and energetic, I'm introverted and analytical.  You need to plan well for something big, then deal with it one step at a time.  I work better under pressure.   But He has plans for us.  Things He wants us to achieve for our growth, and the blessing of others.  And in order for us to meet those challenges, He has us in the perfect time and place, with the perfect people. 

Some of those circumstances might not seem perfect to us.  In fact, we might be convinced there are people or situations in our lives that are holding us back.  But He knows.  He knows how productive we can be for Him, and He knows how to bring that out.

So if you think you're not where you'd like to be in your growth, take heart.  You're getting riper all the time.

~ "You have planted them, 

yes, they have taken root;

   They grow, yes, they bear fruit" ~

Jeremiah 12:2

~

Comfort in Listening

"I know My own, 

and My own know Me"

John 10:14

Such a comfortable verse.

He knows me, indeed.  I am His own.

He knows every hair on my head, and loves me to the maximum allowed by His definition of the word.

I know this, and as a valuable a piece of information as it is, I often forget it.  Could there be any thought more comforting than His knowledge of me?

And I know Him.  I know much about Him, from His word.  I know everything I have read; everything He has revealed to me.  And the more I study, the more I will learn.

Admittedly, it's sometimes hard to recognize His voice.  The enemy does great impersonations.

But He states a fact that His own know Him.  It's a promise.  He also gives the gift of His Spirit, giving us the discernment, that we will not be fooled.

I know His voice.  The trick is to listen to nothing else.

~ "Yet they will by no means follow a stranger,

but will flee from him, 

for they do not know the voice of strangers" ~

John 10:5

~

Made With Love

"fearfully and wonderfully made"

Psalm 139:14

This is me.

I'm the tall one.  The little one looks a lot like me, if a bit jaundiced...

The small one is sort of a "mini-me".  My Amazing Boy bought it for me at the Lego Store in New York City.  Apparently, there are little bins full of varied body parts, and you can select pieces to create a personalized version.  So he bought one for me, and one for his sister, my Awesome Girl.

They are cleverly designed, in the way they represent each of us.  And, of course, I look a lot like my sweet girl in real life, but our "miniatures" have enough differences to look different from one another, and yet still like each of us.  My boy did a good job with his "designing".

And my mom, who was also on the NY trip, said he had a ball doing it.  She said he was crouched down in front of these bins for several minutes, carefully and gleefully combing through the parts, choosing the ones that would best represent my daughter and me.   

I just loved that picture in my mind, of my sweet boy getting such joy out of this task.  He was so excited to present us with these "souvenirs" when he got home, I could just imagine how much fun he had putting them together.

Isn't that a wonderful picture of God, and His love for each of His children? 

"You formed my inward parts;

You covered me in my mother's womb"

Taking joy, in the person He was creating, knowing each of us intimately. 

"You know my sitting down and my rising up...

You comprehend my path and my lying down"

Our strengths and our weaknesses...

"O Lord, You have searched me and known me...

You understand my thought afar off"

Our past and our future...

"in Your book they all were written,

the days fashioned for me,

When as yet there were none of them"

And if my son had fun creating "me," how much more my Father?

Now go read Psalm 139.

~

Don't Go Fish

"the fish that are in the river"

Exodus 7:18

So, get a load of this little charmer:

photo credit: nydailynews.com

That's a snakehead fish. They are native to China, Russia, North Korea and South Korea, but the world's largest (17 lbs) was just caught ~ in Virginia.  Yup, in the Potomac River.  They've been found in several places along the east coast.

How did a fish native to Asia end up in North America?  No one knows.  Most likely a few were somehow brought here by folks who decided they no longer wanted them, so they dumped them in the nearest body of water, and they found each other and started breeding.

The fish, not the fish-dumpers.

The problem ~ other than having a face only their mothers could love ~ is that they have no known predators, other than humans, and each other.

Ew.

This concept got me to thinking about things being introduced into a "foreign" environment.  When that happens in nature, sometimes it's bad for the "alien" and sometimes it's bad for the environment.

For instance, we see it in the Bible, when the Israelites got the promised land and God warned them about interacting with the Canaanites.  And when they married them and made treaties with them anyway, it always went badly.  That's an example of suffering from being the alien in a foreign environment.  They should have kept to themselves and their ways.  Like He told them to. 

Or Adam and Eve.  That's an example of what happens when we allow something foreign into our environment.   God was very clear about what was good for them, and what wasn't.  And yet they allowed into their lives something that was bad for them.  Temptation.  Disobedience.  Sin.  Something for which there is no known cure, other than Him. 

For over ten years, authorities from California to the New York Island (anybody else have "This Land is Your Land" in their head now?) have been battling to stay in control of the snakehead situation.  You and I need to settle ourselves in for a long-term battle, too.  Sometimes it's a specific sin that is our weakness, that brings its destructive influence into our lives.  But other times it's something that's not a sin, per se.  It might be something that works for others, but is not right for you.  In you, it's a factor that's going to lead to destruction.

He created you uniquely and perfectly.  And He knows what's best for you.  Read the Bible.  Pray that He will lead you away from temptation.  Love what and who He has put in your life, and accept those things and people He doesn't.

And look out for weird fish.

~ "Of every tree of the garden you may freely eat;

but " ~

Genesis 2:16

~

A-one, and a-two...

"instructor in charge of the music"

1 Chronicles 15:22

I heard one of my favorite songs today.  Well, actually I heard a few of my favorite songs today.  That is the beauty of my iPod.  It's what I love about my iPod.  Because while I put music on my iPod that my whole family will like ~ so that we'll all enjoy listening to it in the car ~ there's nothing on there that I don't love.  'Cuz I put them all on there.

But because of the number of songs on there, and how often I actually am able to listen to my iPod, it can be weeks between times when I hear a particular song, so when I do, it's almost a pleasant surprise. 

The song I enjoyed so much today was "Nessun dorma" ~ an aria from Puccini's Turandot.  I don't have a lot of opera on my iPod.  As a matter of fact, I'm not sure I have any opera other than that.  But that's a special piece of music.  My father loves opera, and that particular piece has long been one of his very favorites. 

I also have a few classical pieces that are favorites of my dad, in addition to several songs that I learned to love from my mom.  Albums she used to play when we were little.  Songs you've probably never heard of, but that hold a special place in my heart. 

Then of course there are the songs that I shared with the Apple of my Eye when we were in high school.  And stuff my kids have gotten me hooked on.  And worship songs I learned in church or at Bible study.  And music from a cd that my best friend made for me several years ago.

My iPod is many little bits of me.  It illustrates aspects of my history, and my character, and how I came to be who I am.

I wonder if how I view my iPod is like how God views me.  He knows all that we've gone through, all we experienced, all our failures and successes.

And I think it enables Him to view us differently than we view ourselves.  There are experiences from my childhood that I might have forgotten all about, but that played an important role in my growth.  There might be a reason for the weakness that I have, that I don't know.  Maybe while I'm busy criticizing myself for my weaknesses, and wishing I could grow past them, God is thinking how proud He is of me, because He knows why I am the way that I am, and how far I have come. 

It takes a lot of notes to make a song, and a lot of growth and experiences to create the beautiful, complex creatures we are.  Thank God ~ literally ~ that He is the Maestro.

~ "Become complete" ~

2 Corinthians 13:11

~

There's a little in all of us

"(Thomas) said to them, 

'Unless I see... I will not believe.' "

John 20:25

"when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord,

he... plunged into the sea."

John 21:7

I've always loved Peter.  And this verse about him is one reason why.  It's classic "Peter" behavior ~ impulsive and enthusiastic.

But over the years, I've come to love Thomas, too, and I think this verse tells us a lot about his personality ~ cautious and thorough. 

All Peter needed to hear was that the Man they saw was Jesus, and he leapt into the water to get to Him, leaving his friends to bring in the boat, and the net loaded with fish.

Thomas, on the other hand, could not bring himself to believe the closest people in his life ~ his fellow disciples ~ without seeing for himself.

We criticize Thomas for doubting, and perhaps rank him just above Judas Iscariot.  But Jesus knew who he was when He chose him.  Thomas brought something that was needed to the circle of twelve.   And Thomas reminds me of all the times we are cautioned. 

We are told to watch out for false prophets. (Matthew 7:15)

We are told to be as wise as serpents, while being as gentle as doves. (Matthew 10:16)

We are told to test everything, and hold on to the good.  (1 Thessalonians 5:21)

I think this is what Thomas did ~ he tested, and then he held on to His Lord and Savior.

Jesus used Thomas to remind us that those who believe without seeing are blessed, but He also used overly confident Peter to remind us to take heed when we think we stand, lest we fall. 
(1 Corinthians 10:12)

Both Peter and Thomas were hand-picked by Jesus, as were we.  Ephesians 1:4 says He chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world.  Both Peter and Thomas had their flaws, as do we, but all will be used for the glory of God.   And all we have to do, is be who we are.

~ "Thomas answered and said to Him, 

'My Lord and my God!' " ~

John 20:28

~ "Peter said to Him, 'Lord, You know all things;

You know that I love You.' " ~

John 21:17

~

Are you who you think you are?

"who are you?"

Ruth 3:9

One of the things that's fun about the after-Christmas season is enjoying my new presents.  Just yesterday I wore one of my new sweaters, and as I go about daily life, there are new joys.  Maybe a new piece of jewelry, or something pretty in the house.  I've enjoyed sipping my new hot chocolate while watching the movies the kids got for Christmas, or reading a book I had been wanting.

But to be totally honest, I got a gift that rather surprised me this Christmas.  Something I hadn't asked for, and wasn't expecting.  Now, that happens a lot.  People go shopping, and they see something, and they think, "I'll bet she'd like that."  I do that myself for people in my life.

In fact, I found a wonderful antique store near my house this past Christmas, and I had a great time looking around in there.  I knew that anything I found wouldn't be the same kind of stuff I could find in a hundred chain stores in my area.  And I know that no one in my life is going to ask for something from that store, because they don't know the store, and they don't know what's in it.  So the shopping I did there was all based on being inspired by something that I thought someone would love.  And I found a few things I was so excited about giving.  They seemed perfect for the recipient.

But it's possible, that when the recipient got it, they thought, "Why in the world....?  Did she really think I'd like this?"

I hope they didn't think that.  But it's possible.   I know it's possible because I thought it about one of my gifts.  {Note to my loved ones:  no, I'm not going to reveal the gift or the giver.  I'm sincerely grateful for all of your thoughtful gifts!  :) }

Who others think we are...  Who we think we are...  Who He thinks we are.   I think they're generally three different things.  Course, who He thinks we are is who we really are.   He's smart that way.

So.... a few thoughts on those three scenarios...

Regarding #1:  Clearly, some people are wrong when they think they see who we are.  But that doesn't mean there's nothing something valuable in finding out what they think.   In the case of my Christmas gift, I decided I would venture to be the kind of person who would appreciate that gift.   For instance, being someone curious enough to read that book, or fun enough to enjoy that game, or bold enough to wear that eye-catching top.  If someone who loves me thought I would enjoy that, then why wouldn't I endeavor to enjoy it?  Sometimes, who someone else thinks you are, is better than who you are.

Regarding #2:  Have you ever said about some personal characteristic, "that's just who I am."  Well, if you're using that as a defense of some bad habit in your life, then you're right.  That's you.  And by that I mean:  that's not Him in you.  Sometimes we simply don't see the things in ourselves that He'd like to change.  Other times we see them, and we feel bad about them, but not bad enough to take the steps to make the change.   Sometimes, who we think we are, is not who we have to be.  And not what we should be.

Regarding #3:  No one knows us like He does.  Who He thinks we are is who we are.  Who He wants us to be, is who we can be.

So, who are you?

~ "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;

old things have passed away;

behold, all things have become new" ~

2 Corinthians 5:17
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One size doesn't fit all

"what is that to you?"

John 21:22

I got one of my favorite lessons today.  But when I say it's one of my favorites, I mean I love to teach it to others.  I don't necessarily enjoy having it taught to me...

And I'm pretty sure it's been taught to me before, but it's the kind of lesson one has to learn more than once, ya know?

It was in a conversation with one of my Amazing and Awesome kids.  We were having one of those difficult talks wherein I was having to explain why we, as parents, have had to make a certain decision.  Our kids are wonderful about accepting "no" when they'd rather hear "yes" from us, but some decisions are harder than others.   And in this case, I had said "no" to one of them, and "yes" to the other. 

Don't you hate when that happens?

And so I had to try to explain that the situations were not the same.  It was not apples-to-apples.  They are two different children, three years apart, and what's appropriate for one is sometimes not appropriate for the other.   So their father and I do our best to make wise decisions, which sometimes can seem unfair. 

So today I had to ask my unhappy offspring to try not to compare.  "It's not the same situation.  You need to trust that this is what's right for you, and not worry about what we feel is right for your sibling."

And while I said it, I heard God saying it to me.  I remembered what I already know about God's wisdom, and what He allows in the lives of His children.   I thought about Peter's words to Jesus, about John.  In John 21, it says that Peter turned around, saw John, and said to Jesus, "But Lord, what about this man?"  And Jesus replied, "What is that to you?  You follow Me." 

I just love that line.  It's the gentle, compassionate version of "Mind your own business." 

It is so easy to look at someone else and want what they have.  Their home, their car, their career, their troubles...  Or their seeming lack of troubles.  I am, in general, very content with the life that I have, even though it's not perfect.  But every once in awhile, I look at some aspect of someone else's life with a little bit of longing.

But the situations are not the same.  You, me, him, her, them, us.  He knows what He's doing.  Some things that happen to each of us are the good or bad consequences of our decisions; other things are trials or blessings from Him.  But either way, it's a bad thing to compare ourselves to someone else, no matter how similar the situations appear to be.  It takes away trust, and leaves discontentment in its wake.

Face front, take up your cross, and follow Him.

~ "You, Lord God, know Your servant well" ~

2 Samuel 7:20

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What do you know?

"You are acquainted with all my ways"

Psalm 139:3

Alex Karras died today.  Did you know him?  You probably knew of him.  He played professional football in the 1960's, for the Detroit Lions.

After he played football, he became an actor.  That's probably all most people know him for ~ playing football and acting.

I don't think I ever saw him in any of his movies, but I remember the sitcom he was in with his wife.   And I remember one of the guest-starring roles he had in another sitcom.

And I know he was a husband and father.  I knew he was a husband because the woman who played his wife in the sitcom was his wife in real life, too.  So probably a lot of people knew that, too.

But he was so much more than the sum of those parts.  He was complex, diverse and in some ways, unexpected.  There were things that made him laugh, and things that made him cry.  He had hobbies and interests; weaknesses and strengths.  He was admired by friends, and tolerated by those who didn't see the world the way he did.

How do I know all that?  I really don't.  I never met the man.

But I knew someone who knew him.  One of his closest friends.  I was privileged to know a man named John, who played football with Karras.  John went to my church, and I am close with his widow, his daughter, and his step-daughter.  I knew him for only a few years before he died in 2009.  But in that time, I came to know how thoughtful, wise and interesting he was.  I saw him treat everyone he encountered with kindness and respect.  He was a big man ~ being a former pro football player ~ but he was gentle and humble.  And he played a very convincing Simon Peter for the children of our church. 

If you look up John on the internet, you won't find out any of that.  I know how there was much more to John than what a stranger would know about him, and yet I know there was much more to him than I knew. 

And because I know there was more to John, I know there was more to Alex Karras, too.

And I know there's more to you than meets the eye.  Just as there's more to me.  Daughter, sister, friend, co-worker, wife, daughter-in-law, sister-in-law, mother, aunt, teacher, writer, blogger...  I like color and I dislike crickets in my house.  I like to cook but I dislike baking.  Autumn is my favorite season, and summer is my least favorite.

What about you?

Every once in awhile I realize how incredibly foolish it is for us to judge others.  Only God knows all there is to each of us; all the events and people that have gone before us, to make us who we are.  And only God knows what we are capable of becoming.  And that's something we don't even know about ourselves. 

Rest in His knowledge of you.  Remind yourself, when you come to a conclusion about someone else, that there's much you don't know.  And take heart, when you start to realize how far you have to go in your own life.  His knowledge, His patience and His love are limitless.   He knows you fully, and loves you completely.  And that's all you need to know.

~ "Search me, O God, and know my heart;

Try me and know my anxieties;

And see if there is any wicked way in me,

and Lead me in the way everlasting" ~

Psalm 139:23-24