God Keeps Us Moving! Jesus in Bethlehem and Nazareth and Galilee – Luke 2, Matthew 2, Micah 5

After the rituals required after the birth of Jesus, the family returns to Nazareth – and where Luke moves on to telling us the story of Jesus as a teenager, Matthew’s gospel brings in information about the Magi Wisemen from their lands, and Joseph and Mary travelling WITH Jesus FROM the land of Israel to Egypt and back…So when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.

What can we learn from these travels? Not just that God kept them moving – but that God led them to the places and people whom He needed them to see.

And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.

If God is growing the baby of Jesus – imagine what He can do for us and with us… Grace is upon us too – we have God’s grace with the accepting faith and repentance to follow Jesus. Grace is an umbrella of Love which allows us to gather ourselves together even when it is raining brokenness from the outside.

Last night I thought oh yes, I will finally get to a Monday night faith gathering in time for their Christmas program – with friends whom I knew and friends whom were probably going to be there – and with new friends whom I would meet that night. God did not disappoint – but oh for me? STUCK in traffic – actually it kept moving slowly slowly- and for some reason the left lane was moving fastest and I kept in it… but 2 hours for a 45 minute trip – I had to be thinking “what is God thinking here” – He is holding me back on purpose or just the timing – or just the whatever… And yet it has nothing to do with me – as I pray for those in that accident which I learned had been 4 hours before – no fatalities but some injuries and surely more than just a minor inconvenience which I was having… and since the highway was going to be shut down until midnight – likely they had to rebuild a barrier or two besides remove the trucks – I am sure it was an unexpected turn for the workers too…

ANYWAY – I digress like my detour and as I had to exit one exit early which leads to the zigzag travel through suburbia, developments, farmsteads which are idle, and the darkness of the countryside where the deer are always a risk to jump, I still realize that I made it. I made it – and my friends saved me a plate of shepherd’s pie – just like the message was about shepherds being shepherded and us being asked to be led by the Lord to do His Work and speak praises and tell others about the Good News – in our own stories…

My story is HIS story, I told a new friend – that His actions and our willingness to obey and act and listen and speak and care are all purposeful even if we don’t see it – like waiting in traffic. It was one of those traffic days – God kept me moving – and pausing to refuel – both my car and my life and my lunch…

May we always realize that the Lord has everything under control and we need to keep moving best we can to where He leads…

AMEN

—-

Luke 2 NKJV

Christ Born of Mary

And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus that all the world should be registered. This census first took place while Quirinius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered, everyone to his own city.

Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, to the city of David, which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife, who was with child.

So it was, that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

Glory in the Highest
Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.”

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, “Let us now go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.” And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. Now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this Child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them.

Circumcision of Jesus
And when eight days were completed for the circumcision of the Child, His name was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before He was conceived in the womb.

Jesus Presented in the Temple
Now when the days of her purification according to the law of Moses were completed, they brought Him to Jerusalem to present Him to the Lord (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every male who opens the womb shall be called holy to the Lord”), and to offer a sacrifice according to what is said in the law of the Lord, “A pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.”

Simeon Sees God’s Salvation
And behold, there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon, and this man was just and devout, waiting for the Consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. So he came by the Spirit into the temple. And when the parents brought in the Child Jesus, to do for Him according to the custom of the law, he took Him up in his arms and blessed God and said:

“Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace, According to Your word; For my eyes have seen Your salvation Which You have prepared before the face of all peoples, A light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, And the glory of Your people Israel.”

And Joseph and His mother marveled at those things which were spoken of Him. Then Simeon blessed them, and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this Child is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, and for a sign which will be spoken against (yes, a sword will pierce through your own soul also), that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

Anna Bears Witness to the Redeemer
Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; and this woman was a widow of about eighty-four years, who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. And coming in that instant she gave thanks to the Lord, and spoke of Him to all those who looked for redemption in Jerusalem.

***

The Family Returns to Nazareth
So when they had performed all things according to the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own city, Nazareth. And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him.

***

The Boy Jesus Amazes the Scholars
His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover. And when He was twelve years old, they went up to Jerusalem according to the custom of the feast. When they had finished the days, as they returned, the Boy Jesus lingered behind in Jerusalem. And Joseph and His mother did not know it; but supposing Him to have been in the company, they went a day’s journey, and sought Him among their relatives and acquaintances. So when they did not find Him, they returned to Jerusalem, seeking Him. Now so it was that after three days they found Him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers, both listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers. So when they saw Him, they were amazed; and His mother said to Him, “Son, why have You done this to us? Look, Your father and I have sought You anxiously.”

And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?” But they did not understand the statement which He spoke to them.

Jesus Advances in Wisdom and Favor
Then He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was subject to them, but His mother kept all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men.

Matthew 2
New King James Version
Wise Men from the East
Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, saying, “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.”

When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people together, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born.

So they said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for thus it is written by the prophet:

‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
Are not the least among the rulers of Judah;
For out of you shall come a Ruler
Who will shepherd My people Israel.’ ”

Then Herod, when he had secretly called the wise men, determined from them what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the young Child, and when you have found Him, bring back word to me, that I may come and worship Him also.”

When they heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they had seen in the East went before them, till it came and stood over where the young Child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.

The Flight into Egypt
Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him.”

When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, “Out of Egypt I called My Son.”

Massacre of the Innocents
Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying:

“A voice was heard in Ramah,
Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children,
Refusing to be comforted,
Because they are no more.”

The Home in Nazareth
Now when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, “Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child’s life are dead.” Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel.

But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee. And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, “He shall be called a Nazarene.”

Micah 5 NKJV

The Messiah Will Be Born at Bethlehem

Now gather yourself in troops,
O daughter of troops;
He has laid siege against us;
They will strike the judge of Israel with a rod on the cheek.

The Coming Messiah

“But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
Though you are little among the thousands of Judah,
Yet out of you shall come forth to Me
The One to be Ruler in Israel,
Whose goings forth are from of old,
From everlasting.”

Therefore He shall give them up,
Until the time that she who is in labor has given birth;
Then the remnant of His brethren
Shall return to the children of Israel.
And He shall stand and feed His flock
In the strength of the Lord,
In the majesty of the name of the Lord His God;
And they shall abide,
For now He shall be great
To the ends of the earth;
And this One shall be peace.

One Day More – One More Day

“One Day More” the sensational song from the musical Les Miserable (or Les Mis) keeps running through my head. I listened a little bit yesterday when hearing of the new presentation coming to the east coast next summer. “One more day, one day more”… It’s a catchy tune…

(How exciting for me that 10 years after I bought Les Mis tickets for my daughter’s first Broadway musical, she bought me these tickets for next summer – time goes fast – enjoy the slowdown in those formative years of raising kids/adults, time flies…)…

Summer will be here soon knowing how fast life goes, yet it is so far away, since this is October… Life does move fast… and/but life does move slow when you are anticipating changes that you don’t know will ever come (like those French revolutionaries in the musical)… Either way we are to live in the present. We best walk the road the Lord is leading us on, now…

That section of lyrics goes like this at the very end: “Tomorrow we’ll discover what our God in Heaven has in store – One more dawn – One more day – One day more”… This is a song of anticipation and hope as well as perseverance and determination to survive. And it seems in French revolution times it was tough to survive let alone thrive… yet they did. We survived too as a nation – and a people – and ourselves – but many didn’t so we are to count our blessings…

In the movie version, there’s a wonderful scene of people stepping into Heaven when they pass. And isn’t that our blessed destiny with the forgiveness of Jesus and our willingness to repent, repent from sins and from going our own course in this battle of life. It’s one day more trudging through tough life and/or one more day until Heaven awaits… we get to choose our attitude. Let us chose a good attitude.

The spiritual battles would give pause, but Jesus ALREADY gave His Life for our cause.

One more day in enjoyment is also wanting one day more with loved ones and friends and/or one day more is just making it another day until reunion with loved ones, here and in Heaven.

We can hold on… we can sing our way there…

And personally for me, there are many, many steps that I’m thankful to be finally getting to step – blessings can give hope one day at a time. Knowing something exciting is coming is something to hook our hopes on. It balances out the pain of life, which we also should take only one day at a time… we also may count our blessings in being grateful as so many would be grateful just for one blessing today… we best remember to pray for those others in strife of this life.

Our consolation in this world and in this life is that the ultimate war has been won by the Lord, and these battles in Heaven and on earth are but temporary, intense but temporary. And our travel through the valley of the shadow of death is best by following the light of Jesus out of the mess, sometimes into the mess, but ultimately Home… Ultimately Heaven with Jesus awaiting – walk each day knowing our future is secure and Jesus has already validated our tickets. Let us pray that we are listening and be directed by His Word – making a light to our path…

One more day – one day more…

Day by day!!!!

Amen

Proverbs 3:5-6 NKJV
Trust in the Lord with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths.

—

Matthew 7:7-8 NIV

Ask, Seek, Knock “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.”

—

Psalm 119:124-135 NIV

Deal with your servant according to your love
and teach me your decrees.
I am your servant; give me discernment
that I may understand your statutes.
It is time for you to act, Lord;
your law is being broken.
Because I love your commands
more than gold, more than pure gold,
and because I consider all your precepts right,
I hate every wrong path.
…

Your statutes are wonderful;
therefore I obey them.
The unfolding of your words gives light;
it gives understanding to the simple.
I open my mouth and pant,
longing for your commands.
Turn to me and have mercy on me,
as you always do to those who love your name.
Direct my footsteps according to your word;
let no sin rule over me.
Redeem me from human oppression,
that I may obey your precepts.
Make your face shine on your servant
and teach me your decrees.

Praying Vegas – Slaying Vegas – Staying Vegas – LOVING VEGAS

I prayed “Lord Willing” – HE WAS !!! I got there for my mini-vacation with so many activities including the down-time (which is never enough)…

I prayed Vegas, you could say that I “slayed Vegas” in knowing now what works and doesn’t work for me, and there are many aspects that I will stay in Vegas-mode, in my heart… but yes, I was so grateful to get home too, to my family, to have beautiful coolness mornings, summer bugs, and a refreshing rainstorm the other night that was just truly northeast late summer weather… Today here will be 80s and I plan to do errands then get to the beach to refresh my ‘ahhhhh’, yes – relaxation – home but also remembering home is where your heart is – and it should always be with the Lord…

I have so many things to be thankful for this week, YOU HAVE NO IDEA… honestly, I have no idea too, I could never wrap my head around this all, and our lives here, because the Lord gives us SO MANY things beyond our comprehension. Including and especially HOPE.

“Slaying Vegas” is a new book! Many wrote chapters in the new book about making the best and truly all the women who wrote chapters have been “slaying life” – “slaying Vegas” – meaning living with gusto, giving it all they got, making the Vegas landscape a better place, and inspiring women and all along the way… It is empowering to see women empowered. “Slaying Vegas” is available on Amazon… There is my promotional plug support!!!

I also want to shout out another Vegas transplant – one that brought sunshine into my heart and palate – HANDEL’S ICE CREAM!!!! Yes – this is a company from Ohio – and there are some franchises out east – but now I found that they found them in Las Vegas – oh the joy of the 4 scoop sampler for less than $7… Took the desert of Las Vegas and made it into the dessert of the day… Oh – the blue cookie monster ice cream – there was none lost none wasted for the 4 year old ate it all and even the whole cone… yum and fun…

And yeah – that is what half my vacation was – even though evenings were for Vegas thrills, – the mornings were also blessed – being with a 4yr old, and an 18-month yr old and sitting on the floor and playing blocks – and chicken nuggets and making a cheese quesadilla for the little girl, just like I made 20 years ago for my oldest… Yes, time with kids reminded me how long ago I had mine – and oh it reminded me of the kids back home who are now both over 21 – both driving – both adulting – and how time flies… We raise kids and then we raise adults… And we should take time to BE with the kids when they are little – because it makes THEIR childhood more idyllic to have love – and yes get ice cream and yes play in the dirt and then a hose in the backyard (and THANK GOD I can still get down to sit on the floor at their level)… And our trip to the McD’s playground inside and our trip to get a haircut for the 4 year old – amazing – (that is what pleases a grandma all the world around: a haircut!) – and seeing joy in making a connection with the hairdresser (from Ohio too like the ice cream). And yes our other trip to Dairy Queen near the Hoover Dam in Boulder City – with chocolate dipped vanilla ice cream – yum (all while keeping the kids in the car – remember those days?) – and our trip to see the blue caboose of the old time railroad from our car windows (not getting out of the blessed Air Conditioning at 116F)… and playing in a dirt pile at the construction corner – and seeing the kitties – and vacation is being a kid as an adult (with your own money now and ability to buy ice cream) and seeing the blessed newness in their eyes and in your heart. Being on vacation means changing your mindset too. And accepting a new season of life for temporary. And making memories that last longer than the photos. Yeah – that is what vacation can be… Memories…

And my 7-11 trips were a blessing – walking 2 blocks in the cooler mornings while seeing the mountains were a highlight too – because I built a nice rapport with the cashier and told her all about the neon and the show to see Donny Osmond – and the Hoover Dam – and the everything… I also needed someone to share with and she was it… God provided…

This is the “staying Vegas” part of my story – because it is hard to transplant oneself into a dry arid environment like the Las Vegas desert without bringing the need to figure out what works for you and what doesn’t and what you bring home in your heart and what you leave behind and what “staying Vegas” even means… To “stay” means what? Sure, we can have that concept of slaying vegas, but STAYING? well – it means ADAPTING… Vegas is truly a place where you have to adapt – adapt to desert living – adapt to new places – adapt to new people but they are likely transplants themselves – adapt to new roads and ice cream places too – and a 7-11 big gulp of lemonade instead of my convenience store – yes adapt to everything – but all in all, know that God is here too… And that is what I asked myself the first day – where will God reveal Himself to me here – and in the majesty of the mountains I saw His Handiwork – and in the curiosity of a child I saw His Joy – and in the ice cream I saw the Father of God who pleased – and in the Grandma? “Mimi” – well, I saw the Love of God…

YES – Grandmas who will move their whole lives cross country to LOVE on their grandchildren are GOD’S LOVE – all and all… This is LOVING VEGAS to a whole new level. LOVE that is a sacrificial LOVE is what love is all about.

So – I saw God on this trip – and God was and IS: LOVE.

Amen

The Forget-me-nots of Mother’s Day

It is a blessing to come up north for Mother’s day weekend to celebrate my mom, to absorb the spring again (40 degrees rain became 60 plus sunshine), and to get some projects done! Yeah, my mom doesn’t sit very long, we get up and go! (Saturday was first 9am cleanup session at preparing the camp for special needs kids for summer programs, it’s a camp my family has helped with for 50 plus years – beautiful in the rolling hills. )

(I’ll be traveling south later today for home, and my kids to have dinner with me! )

This repeat spring for me (there’s like a 3 week difference in our seasons and temperatures) meant I was getting a chance to revisit my favorite flower in forget-me-nots, as seen in my family’s backyard under the redbuds, as well as smell the lilacs, which are much more prominent up here. I missed the whole season in home south. I caught it up here! Mmmm…

These are forget-me-nots of the seasons. And these are times to remember the forget-me-nots of mother’s day and forget-me-nots of the Lord as our Shepherd gathering us but also letting us wander. Our mom’s sacrifice in love to bear us, raise us, keep track of us, inspire us and keep important memories alive. Moms also let us go do our own thing – cutting apron strings but keeping the kitchen open. My mom reminds us of our good times and the sacrifices seem obvious.

The Lord? The Lord never wants us to “be independent”, He does want us to both “forget-me-not” in His previous care and forget-me-not in everything in front of us. The Lord will continue to sacrifice and Shepherd. The Lord raises us as children not to be forgetful but to be trusting. TRUST – that is the TRUTH of motherhood too – trusting children to be OK. Thanks mom – thanks Lord…

May we love our moms and our Lord today, and BE THANKFUL!!!

AMEN

Psalm 126 NKJV

A Joyful Return to Zion – A Song of Ascents.
When the Lord brought back the captivity of Zion,
We were like those who dream.

Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
And our tongue with singing.
Then they said among the nations,
“The Lord has done great things for them.”
The Lord has done great things for us,
And we are glad.

Bring back our captivity, O Lord,
As the streams in the South.

Those who sow in tears
Shall reap in joy.
He who continually goes forth weeping,
Bearing seed for sowing,
Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing,
Bringing his sheaves with him.

Take One Trip, Two Views – GRACED and Grateful

The waiter should have taken two trips, the plates were super heavy and not stacked for the long trip through the garden cafe. Or perhaps not have stopped by our table while carrying the load, and just stayed single minded going back into the restaurant. Because our sidebar conversation about putting the credit cards in his apron may have set him off-kilter, distracted, and he was off-kilter already, as I mentioned, with the big heavy plates. Not the action but the conversation. Well an averted disaster as I grabbed plates as he set them down on our open table. It would have been bad, with broken plates on rocks, but we didn’t have that happen, crisis averted. I suggested that why not scrape the plates camp-style and stack, but he was too embarrassed to absorb that info. He also was trying to explain that he couldn’t take the bill and credit cards, each table had to go up front, OK… OK and I’m sorry and grateful for the whole situation of almost dropped plates truly grateful for not dropped plates. This is taking two looks at the same situation. One trip, two views. Grateful and well, grateful. Graced and Graceful.

One trip – the waiter’s view of pain and embarrassment, let alone strain of those plates (I mean like 8 really thick plates) – and my view of helping or of two views ‘almost crashed’ and ‘not crashed’ – of helpful and not helpful – and my ultimate view of NOT spoiling the idyllic view, and atmosphere in the garden, in the shaded sunshine of a place I always wanted to be. Grace in all things.

There were ladies who lunched who came with their bicycles surely coming off the nearby trail. Their bicycles so neatly lined up. Such a photo in my mind that I took one with my phone camera. Two views to one trip – my photo and my mind, which the view with our eyes always seems better. And these ladies had a great view of their bicycles outside plus surely a great view riding. They also had a return trip in front of them after a big lunch. I hope they had a wonderful time, I’m knowing we were all appreciative of being outside. Imagine a view of dreaming enjoyably about being in their shoes with this privilege, but then not needing to be and zipping in the car more easily. Privilege either view… Graced and Grateful.

This scene within a short hour provided many views , including memory of the situation. I think we should walk through each day with two views, ours and how the Lord views our steps and missteps. We know that He will guide us. And we know that he will forgive us because his love is unconditional, no condition for granting love. Privilege in both views. Graced and Graceful.

We are very conditional as we view the world, make plans and bargains, and fail to just sit and enjoy the present. What if we were to take God’s view, having already been given grace to then keep moving through the day KNOWING that. Then being able to share that. No need for hurt memories or second trips rehashing ‘what ifs’… What if we sat in GRACE like being in the shade on a sunny day, and just said THANK YOU LORD. One trip, two views. BOTH IN GRACE. Let us not mix them up. Focus on things GIFTED from above.

Grace and Grateful – and Graceful to share…

AMEN

If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. Colossians 3:1-2

AMEN AMEN

Travel Transitions Truly

Travel Transfer Transit Transitions Transient Transportation Truth

I’ll take TRUTH for 100, Alex…

It’s not any “Jeopardy” game when you fly, it’s fun and engaging if you choose this path. You just need to wait sometimes, haul it faster sometimes, relax and go all at the same time. I don’t mind flying, turbulence is not fun, but cars can have bumpy rides too. The truth is that the Lord never changes, but surely transportation does!

Riding the friendly skies home today, I started eating an extra piece of candy from “The Candyman” tucked in my pocket. An Almond Joy. This is a good travel memory of someone making a difference, JOY, making a party bus out of the Enterprise shuttle van, encouraging us to take selfies and sing along to pop tunes, so fun in a normally mundane job… Silly Silly Silly people, like the Candyman, make the bumps in the road much more fun. I tipped him girl scout cookies, the cooky mom meets candy man. And we transitioned easily from the transfer back of our rental car to airport terminal. Convenient Calm Cool… Candy…

This is where I wonder why a terminal (like a station) is called a terminal, because it’s not an end but current life runs through it. Busy busy busy waiting is so comfortable these days with electricity everywhere and comfy chairs, restaurants food and of course moms smuggle in snacks – NOT for the kids, they are ADVENTURE ADULTS, what a joy to see them self-sufficient. “Mom Win”…

I appreciated taking this trip and the flying high sky is yet another movement in the history of transportation – for which the Henry Ford museum was a great travel stop yesterday afternoon. Worth the money even just 2 hours, saw A LOT! We “flew” through the exhibition… trains, planes, cars, carts, cool…

I appreciated the Kennedy car, the McDonald’s and Holiday Inn neon signs, the Lincoln chair, and especially the Rosa Park’s bus, we sat in the bus, wow… great museum… love the trains, so in my blood…

The truth of counting one’s blessings includes remembering that this life is but a short stop, not terminal as in our terminal end, even in death we WILL TRANSITION in a TRANSPORT by the Lord. We will TRANSFER if we TRUST in the TRUTH. LIFE IS TRANSIENT, LIVE IT IN TRUTH.

(And just now TOUCHDOWN, we landed from our flight. It’s good to be home earth, a TEMPORARY home for now… TRUTH).

AMEN and THANK YOU LORD for the ADVENTURE.

https://www.thehenryford.org/visit/henry-ford-museum

TRUST GOD in Life (and Ice)

I prepared for this ice storm and I have to say that they got this forecast spot on! freezing rain and ice this morning but warmed up and cleared up by noon – we saw it coming – we know to stay in – and my prayers for those forced to venture out… I would say to appreciate this “mini-lockdown” – and see what God is having you learn in it…

I can say this because an ice lockdown for me 10 years ago was SO SO SO IMPORTANT in my faith journey – the first 6 weeks of awakening – and the writings that I hid (but knew later were the most instrumental in processing and writing down my journey for others) – remind me of God’s faithfulness.

So – 10 years ago the ice storm here was awful and dangerous and not predicted as far as we knew. and we were stuck at the girl scout event – a great one I must say – we were overnight rockclimbing and sleeping on the mats in the gym… cool… (sleeping after the dance party that is) My daughter was a teen then and these were the oldest girls in the troop – now, 4 troops later my troop leader has girls just a bit younger than this age – scouting is the amazing blessing my family has enjoyed for years…

This was 4 weeks into my awakening 6 weeks. My troop leader was and is amazing and gave me support and comfort when neither she (nor I) knew WHY the events of the evening set me so philosophical thinking… God knew – and God gave me space and ice to get me thinking – and what a blessing to have written out my journey. These writings are the raw originals with edits only for grammar and typos.

Here are the 2 writings from 10 years ago and such blessings to remember…

TRUST GOD in life today and every day and especially in the ice…

Amen

Writing #31 (make sure to read #32 after this one)

Rock Climbing and Life Lessons, 17Jan2015

Tonight I failed, twice. Everyone is fine, but rock climbing fails can be fatal. We are fine and having fun rock climbing with the girl scouts. But I failed my “belaying test”… was I over confident? Or just a beginner’s mistake? I got my hand caught in the mechanism and I was stuck and in pain… I was testing so the trainer had the rope too he had my back and the person wouldn’t have fallen (this time) but still I was in pain and I twice lifted my hand off… he failed me right there… says it happens all the time, he will retest me in the morning… I was and am upset at myself, for over confidence, for not working thru the pain… for taking my eyes off the climber and my hands off the rope…now, I know this was a common mistake the first time doing it… but I hate to fail… and worse I interpret everything that happens these days as God trying to tell me something… and I relate this to my helping people… what if I extend my hand, my ear, my compassion, and then let go of the rope?… what if I take my eye off the climber… if I am going to stand for something and offer to help and be bold in what I do… how am I going to handle it if the person falls?… I try to watch out for people… I feel pride sometimes in helping people whereas I should feel prayer not pride… I should feel humble that God showed me someone hurting… chose me to help…

I ask myself, what if I can’t stay consistent… I will so try try try! There is no easy answer… my tears… I had to remove myself from the fun scout event in this overwhelming sorrow and stress. I was so blessed to have my troop leader, my silly sister, come up beside me… comfort me and tell me what I would tell anyone else… these things happen.,. and you can’t always prevent the crashes… you can’t always stop the pain…

Tomorrow I will take that test again… I am going to put myself out there again… and I am going to pray and keep my eye steady and my hands moving, listen and watch… it’s too important to me to not help people, it’s too important for me to not trust God…

My second fail tonight was my lack of trust and my motions on the rope may have caused my belayer to slip with her hand too… she will be ok, but more painful than mine… her hand was stuck… I didn’t trust when I saw too much slack in the rope… I didn’t trust and she got hurt… I found I was next to a fenced wall and scaled it as fast as I could… Sometimes God closes a door but opens a window… I scaled myself to safety.

So how can I trust God unfailingly? I am weak and only God can help me learn how to trust Him 100%. I have to trust… I have to get out of the way and just put 100% of my trust in Him,… otherwise it is going to cause someone pain and I will come crashing down.

Writing #32 (make sure to read #31 before this)

This is an important follow up to last night’s post… It is not lost on me that while hot tea would be appropriate to drink here on the cozy couch by the Christmas tree (I wrote this after I got home from the ice storm) that instead the extra drink from my kids’ happy meal is (yes) ICE tea… I am drinking ICE tea…

And God Sent ICE, 18Jan

After my fails at belaying and trusting during rock climbing, I couldn’t wait to get back this morning to try again. Luckily we stayed overnight; I had good therapy of silly moms until 1am, a good solid five hours sleep. We had 2 hours to climb in the morning. but I knew I had to leave an hour early to get to church class… and because of Girl Scout falling ill with fever, I was leaving even earlier – which meant only half an hour of climbing for my daughter… she was not happy at the least because rock climbing appears to be her life calling now…

But then God sent ICE. Icy freezing rain covering everything… Church at 8 o’clock cancelled 9 o’clock canceled… I zip through social media , phone calls, texts … will my 10 o’clock class be cancelled too?.. prayerfully hoping (not that we should have left anyway because the roads were the worst… shut downs, many car pileups)… ICE…terrible to say, but the JOY as I knew they would cancel, and they did… I could tell my daughter that she could climb the whole two hours… and climb she did, wow she is amazing!

After the flurry of texting etc about church canceled, I turned my attention to myself… it was time to retrain, refocus, retest … it was time to belay again, this time I was so determined, practiced and said I will belay my own daughter… I will never take my eye off of her… I would give my whole hand to keep her from falling… not worry about a possible pinch like I got last night. Well, she was too exhausted, I asked for a volunteer… guess what? The daughter of my friend who I left hanging last night when I pinched my hand… she is the one who volunteered… yes I would give my hand for this daughter too…
With steady, even-keeled serious Keith our trainer, by my side, we started the test… she climbed, I belayed, I gave her advice for foot holds… I had good technique Keith assured me… I didn’t take my eye off her… She was to randomly fall four times in my test…she did, I found the right position for my hands… I didn’t drop her or forget about her… I saw her safely back to the wall… and safely down when we were done. I passed. No, I didn’t make a fuss… quiet victory, humbled achievement.

Now that I am certified, and my daughter will be wanting to go to the climbing gym, I know there will be more pain and pinches ahead… but I have better technique, better focus… it is not just rock climbing I am talking about… it’s counseling, it’s reaching out to people, it’s LIFE. Focus on your technique, never lose sight of the climber, keep the faith, and pray for God’s guidance.

The ice gave me extra time to climb my personal mountain, made us slow down and not be overconfident on our drive home… And on my ride home, one of my teenage passengers was named Grace. I drove home with Grace, the free and unmerited favor from God.

Thank God for the Ice and the Grace.

Rock Climbing and Life Lessons, 17Jan – #31

And God Sent ICE, 18Jan – #32

Snow, Season Shifts, and Such, Savor and Savior it

Ah, snow…

It’s a known – “watch the weather” – so I did – and it was more beautiful than scary. I do love snow, so while I really was on a mission to strategically get through it, I did stop occasionally to admire it. (And I packed winter gear for sure – boots and winter coat were donned!!!)

The journey started at 40 then 37 degrees then 33 for a while, 32 just a moment, then down the mountains 33, 37, 40…. rain-snow-rain. So I had fall – winter – fall seasons, and because it was almost 70 last week, forsythia flowers were blooming up at mom’s – spring sprung twice as a surprise each of these recently warm years… I thought how great the northeast has stockpiles of salt deposits – how fittingly convenient… salt melts snow….

The hills surrounding got 4 to 12 inches of snow, but the valley got rain, lots that the minor gorge creek at the bottom of the road was pouring down in volume.

The trip through mountain elevation caused me to see up to 8 inches of big fluffy snow at one point, but I didn’t stop for that photo, because the roads were really good, salted, and there was a gap of precipitation, and the height of day is when my Dad always preferred me to get through the mountains. I was subaru-safe and slowed down. It is nice to be up home this weekend, pre Thanksgiving moments with my mom, brother, and today planning work at my aunt’s farmhouse (only 4 inches snow there)… it’s normal to keep going in snow…

The snow sandwiched in the middle of my seasons did get me thinking of Christmas, it seemed not out of place then in the moment, otherwise I am so NOT ready to switch my palette of life of browns and yellows, faded red oranges to WAY TOO BRIGHT red and green, not until after Thanksgiving. So right now preferred browns and yellows in my sights added in white. Christmas is coming, but savor THIS season first, whatever the temperature.

However slow or fast this Christmas season comes, it’s not a delay of understanding the REAL SEASON SENSATION – that is of course the story of Jesus coming – advent starts soon. Well 9 months before Jesus’s birth we are also clued into a preparation story, mary with Jesus is prepared by Elizabeth and cousin John the Baptist, and dad Zachariah having to wait to get his voice back. Ah, many a waiting story…. In Zachariah’s account in Luke, is like spring inside fall (forsythia not overrun with snow) reading about Jesus Savior as hope, in the song of Zachariah, Luke 1:67-75, we see a people who saw the glimpse of the new within the old season. We savor THIS Savior season.

So yes, we can glimpse this season shift in Luke’s gospel account, the crucial connection between old and new testaments but one long journey for Jesus and David’s line…

It’s like snow in my fall, spring in my step, and the real WARM UP to the season!

Zechariah’s Song

His father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied: “Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, because he has come to his people and redeemed them. He has raised up a horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David (as he said through his holy prophets of long ago), salvation from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us – to show mercy to our ancestors and to remember his holy covenant, the oath he swore to our father Abraham: to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.

—

THEN SPEAKING OF JOHN THE BAPTIST v76-80

And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven to shine on those living in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the path of peace.” And the child grew and became strong in spirit; and he lived in the wilderness until he appeared publicly to Israel.

AMEN AMEN

It’s All a Blur

I wanted a photo of a sign that said “No horses on bridge”, but I moved my arm and it’s all a blur photo-wise. Trust me LIFE is all a BLUR too.

I would know, being old enough and yet young enough that there’s many things that have changed in my mere few decades. To me, my young age sounds like a lot, but it doesn’t feel like a lot. You too? So I say it’s like a blur, but with crisp moments that seem like yesterday and wish would return like tomorrow. (Then again glad others are gone, water under the bridge.)

The bridge. Can you imagine a time someone would have walked a team of horses across this rennovated but once 1800’s metropolitan country-ish bridge, between cities now, or be tempted to cross even with car traffic because this bridge was then and now convenient? Can you imagine a time someone would have owned horses for transportation and work let alone pleasure, or would have even had a place to go on a horse, would have even had enough time to ride a horse???… I can imagine that for THEN but not for now. Time is a blur.

Look, I didn’t even have time for a proper photo as traffic stopped and then decided to go. Another time I had plenty of time stuck in the middle of the bridge for a day photo of the awesome trusses. Every rush hour this FREE (once toll) bridge is packed. Trust me the horses would have had a faster crossing on foot on the sidewalk! No, no one walks across on the sidewalk anymore either! And I’m old enough and young enough to say “Remember when people walked to work, school, groceries?”… yeah life’s a blur.

Bumpy rides seem smoother in hindsight.

I crossed the bridge driving my daughter to and from her internship. I loved the time chatting in the car, backed up traffic or not. I appreciated the time making the most out of Christmas, open and closed in a short month, I’m holding onto it longer, to appreciate one day at a time because that’s all I could handle and because we ALL don’t know about tomorrow let alone next year. Lord willing yes or no, just go with the flow.

So, also this week I was picking up my outside knocked-over neon nativity decorations after a windy wet storm. There was a ten dollar bill blown up the hill, sitting in front of a king! Wow, a king that delivers! And I thought what would Jesus’s family have used those gifts for, of Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh? Were they symbolic gifts? Practical gifts? Both? And what should I spend this 10 dollars on?! It’s cool, but 10 dollar 50 years ago would have bought a lot more! What would it be in Jesus’s time? Things change. Jesus doesn’t, but times do. I will think about this ten dollars – perhaps it like taxes and toll bridges are needed to be paid and the Lord provides that too (just ask Peter and that fish). Isn’t it good that Jesus paid the price for our toll toiling life bridge to Heaven too?

What doesn’t change? That time moves fast. What shouldn’t change? Our opportunities to say thank You Lord, whether in pain or in peace, it’s JOY in the Journey which fills our praise.

If we take it one day at a time, we can lock in and focus on the One True Sure LIGHT that is Jesus! We won’t have a blur but will see Him clearly, leading us!

Keep Shining Lord.

Be unblurred.

Amen

Debbie Upper

A Child of God Awakening to His Love

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