"In Jerusalem at the time, there was a man, Simeon by name, a good man, a man who lived in the prayerful expectancy of help for Israel. And the Holy Spirit was on him. The Holy Spirit had shown him that he would see the Messiah of God before he died. Led by the Spirit, he entered the Temple. As the parents of the child Jesus brought him in to carry out the rituals of the Law, Simeon took him into his arms and blessed God: 'God, you can now release your servant; release me in peace as you promised. With my own eyes I've seen your salvation; it's now out in the open for everyone to see: A God-revealing light to the non-Jewish nations, and of glory for your people Israel.'
Jesus' father and mother were speechless with surprise at these words. Simeon went on to bless them, and said to Mary his mother, 'This child marks both the failure and the recovery of many in Israel, A figure misunderstood and contradicted—the pain of a sword-thrust through you—But the rejection will force honesty, as God reveals who they really are.'
Anna the prophetess was also there, a daughter of Phanuel from the tribe of Asher. She was by now a very old woman. She had been married seven years and a widow for eighty-four. She never left the Temple area, worshiping night and day with her fastings and prayers. At the very time Simeon was praying, she showed up, broke into an anthem of praise to God, and talked about the child to all who were waiting expectantly for the freeing of Jerusalem."
Luke 2:25-37 (The Message)
All right. This is a story you would expect to see at Christmas-time. Baby Jesus. Simeon in the Temple. "For my eyes have see your salvation." (Remember the musical...Jerry looked like Santa all dressed in his robes and white beard! Ahhh, the memories!!)
Still...we are studying the women of the Bible in Sunday School right now. Today was Anna. I love this story. For many reasons. And I believe it appropriate for all "seasons". Including the one I am in as I write.
Can you imagine...in a time, an age, where they did not know the Holy Spirit? Understanding the infilling upon salvation? Know of His sacrifice? Hearing the words of the prophets who had gone on LONG before, sitting at the feet of the Elders reading about Isaiah, Daniel, Job, Ezekiel, Joseph, the mighty King David. Waiting, waiting, waiting for the promise to be fulfilled. For the Messiah to come. For freedom. That was Simeon. He had waited and lived long after his years should have been over...God made a promise to him. And God always keeps His promises. He sent His Holy Spirit to Simeon to cover him, to encourage him, to prepare him. So that when Mary and Joseph walked into the Temple, all Simeon had to do was lay eyes on the infant and he knew HE was the ONE.
But, Simeon wasn't alone waiting in the Temple in Jerusalem. A tiny, obscure few sentences about a prophetess named Anna. She had been a widow for 84 years. (Most people believe she was a widow UNTIL she was 84...but the King James says "she was of a great age, and had lived with an husband seven years from her virginity; And she was a widow of about fourscore and four years" which says she was a widow FOR 84 years, not UNTIL she was 84.) Married 7 years before that. Say she was married, as was the custom "back in the day" at the ripe old age of 17. By this time, she would have been 108 years old. She waited 84 years to behold her salvation. Eighty-four years. She rejoiced...praised in anthem and spoke of the child to anyone who would hear her.
For me, the story isn't incredible because the Holy Spirit had rested on Simeon, but because the Holy Spirit rested on 108 year old Anna until HER eyes had seen God's Salvation for Israel. She lived at the Temple. Praying day and night. Fasting. Praising. Singing. Waiting. Worshiping. Nothing is said of her impatience. Of her complaining. Of her whining that it was taking too long. Of her staunch independence or her soapbox where she undoubtedly stood to declare her rights as a woman.
She simply waited to behold her precious Savior. Did she know he would come as a baby? Well, if she was versed in scripture, she certainly did. If she listened to the Pharisee's and Sadducee's recite the book of Isaiah word for word she did. So did Simeon. It's in there! And then to top it off, she was covered by the Holy Spirit. Just like Simeon, all she had to do was glance His way...and she knew.
Can you imagine her delight? Her utter joy at the sight she had so long waited to see?? As her gaze fixed on the Savior, she must have leaped for joy...inside and out!!
Okay...my point. Why is it we cannot wait? We cannot wait one day for an answer to prayer. Not one moment. Just as Christ Himself asked His disciples..."can you not wait with me one hour?" We simply say..."no, we can't." You are taking too long. You are infringing on my right to speediness. In everything. Our worship is rushed so we can get to a quick-get-me-out-the-door sermon because we cannot wait with Him one hour. And forget the altar. We certainly do not want to "linger"...that takes too much time. Anna waited 84 years.
I'm not saying we have to sit in a pew all day...please...be realistic. We will sit two hours talking in a restaurant with friends, heaven forbid we didn't get right to that texting over and over. We will spend HOURS on the computer doing this and that (like THIS!). But we will not wait with Him one hour.
I so want my life to reflect that I waited with Him as often as I possibly could whenever I possibly could. I want my life to reflect His Holy Spirit. I want to glance His way and know beyond all imagination that He is my Savior...and I will know His salvation when I see it, because I stopped and waited for that brief God-moment of time to know and understand Him. Our lives are short in comparison to Simeon or Anna, but time in the eyes of God is even more fleeting. One hour. One moment. To know Him better. To know Him more.
84 years...one moment...whatever it takes.
Pink
9.24.2007
9.20.2007
Guess What????
I'm subbing today! Cool. This post will be a two parter...now and at the end of the day. I want to get it all into one post.
I was really surprised that I wasn't upset when school actually began over a month ago. Upset that I wasn't going back, wasn't getting ready to begin another year of devo's with my first hour, devising projects to keep the throngs of bored journalism teenagers occupied at least through each quarter. I wasn't even upset that I wasn't...in August...choosing the movies I would be showing before Christmas break! I know, I'm anal...but I did so love picking movies to go along with each particular class.
Now...not preparing for Music Ministry was a different scenario. That was a tad difficult. I really loved that class. No offense to my J Students...I love them...but, worship is my life and knowing that I wouldn't be able to study or teach or participate in this place was depressing. I love watching my students "get it" and then apply it to their teams. Then put themselves "out there" for the whole student body to see. That is not easy...no matter the personality, it's hard to know that if I do this, I could be made fun of, or ridiculed or laughed at. But that was not the case here in this place. At least not while I was here. (Yes, I realize I am writing in two different tenses, it's just my way...) The student body really loved their worship leaders and the teams. Usually, the complaining came from staff. That's an entirely different post...rest assured I will not go into that heartache here.
Today, the day I am subbing, is Chapel day. Imagine that. God orchestrated my first sub day to be a Chapel day! Ain't He grand???? I am so way excited that I can see Chapel without me...kind of weird, but I think you understand my meaning. I need to see that DC was right..."we got along fine without before you came, we will get along fine without you when you leave!" Harsh words, maybe, but true nonetheless.
Right now, I am in study hall...yuck...and it's 3rd hour. Really...so far so good. Only 5 hours left in the day! Catch ya on the flip-flop!
Okay...FLIP! It is now the end of the school day and I am ready to wipe away the tears and write. Chapel was very good today. I loved the worship! Now, here is where it COULD be said: "Well, of COURSE you did! Those students up there were YOUR students less than six months ago, it's not going to change THAT much in that short amount of time!" But I am stepping away from that prideful side to say, well done. And without ME!! It was so awesome to see them again, and at the end they were so happy to see me, and that felt SO good. I guess I didn't realize that being missed could be so uplifting to one's spirit! Let me assure you, it was. I even had an opportunity to encourage a former student to stick it out at least through the end of the semester. Change can be difficult...heart wrenching even, but it is inevitable. My heart goes out to the ones who are having difficulty adjusting to the new way, and, to the ones who have already given up, my heart breaks. And DC WAS right.
I liked my first subbing day...I look forward to many more...even if it means it's on a Chapel day.
I was really surprised that I wasn't upset when school actually began over a month ago. Upset that I wasn't going back, wasn't getting ready to begin another year of devo's with my first hour, devising projects to keep the throngs of bored journalism teenagers occupied at least through each quarter. I wasn't even upset that I wasn't...in August...choosing the movies I would be showing before Christmas break! I know, I'm anal...but I did so love picking movies to go along with each particular class.
Now...not preparing for Music Ministry was a different scenario. That was a tad difficult. I really loved that class. No offense to my J Students...I love them...but, worship is my life and knowing that I wouldn't be able to study or teach or participate in this place was depressing. I love watching my students "get it" and then apply it to their teams. Then put themselves "out there" for the whole student body to see. That is not easy...no matter the personality, it's hard to know that if I do this, I could be made fun of, or ridiculed or laughed at. But that was not the case here in this place. At least not while I was here. (Yes, I realize I am writing in two different tenses, it's just my way...) The student body really loved their worship leaders and the teams. Usually, the complaining came from staff. That's an entirely different post...rest assured I will not go into that heartache here.
Today, the day I am subbing, is Chapel day. Imagine that. God orchestrated my first sub day to be a Chapel day! Ain't He grand???? I am so way excited that I can see Chapel without me...kind of weird, but I think you understand my meaning. I need to see that DC was right..."we got along fine without before you came, we will get along fine without you when you leave!" Harsh words, maybe, but true nonetheless.
Right now, I am in study hall...yuck...and it's 3rd hour. Really...so far so good. Only 5 hours left in the day! Catch ya on the flip-flop!
Okay...FLIP! It is now the end of the school day and I am ready to wipe away the tears and write. Chapel was very good today. I loved the worship! Now, here is where it COULD be said: "Well, of COURSE you did! Those students up there were YOUR students less than six months ago, it's not going to change THAT much in that short amount of time!" But I am stepping away from that prideful side to say, well done. And without ME!! It was so awesome to see them again, and at the end they were so happy to see me, and that felt SO good. I guess I didn't realize that being missed could be so uplifting to one's spirit! Let me assure you, it was. I even had an opportunity to encourage a former student to stick it out at least through the end of the semester. Change can be difficult...heart wrenching even, but it is inevitable. My heart goes out to the ones who are having difficulty adjusting to the new way, and, to the ones who have already given up, my heart breaks. And DC WAS right.
I liked my first subbing day...I look forward to many more...even if it means it's on a Chapel day.
9.17.2007
Just a hop, skip and a jump...
First...this sunset is from my front yard...it was prettier before I ran inside to get the camera, but this is pretty enough...I love our sunsets!
Here we are on our vacation in the Wisconsin Dells...graciously provided by our friendly neighborhood daughter and son-in-law! That's right...Happy and NCBF sent us on a four day vacation for our anniversary. Ain't they just the most precious???? Yes...they is! This is the one bedroom townhome we stayed in...
the living/dining room...
the fireplace (and Carl)...
The view from the front porch...
The local sights...you get the picture...
This place is called Top Secret...everyone says it's a waste of money...all the furnuture is nailed to the ceiling...that's the big attraction. woo...hoo.
We went here for the lunch theater...American Musical Celebration. They opened with: "America, We Celebrate Your Song"!! AAAHHH the memories. A GREAT production, nonetheless, and the food was superb!
A German clock tower...every day on the hour, it tells the story of the Pied Piper. Cool.
The beautiful Wisconsin River.
Local color...
Here we are on our last day, getting ready to head out. Okay, MY smile is bigger than Chief's, but we had an incredible time and can't wait to go again. And we WILL be going again...
...because now, we are proud Bluegreen vacation club OWNERS!!
We did have a wonderful, relaxing vacation...much needed and it was awesome to be just the two of us for a few days. The weather was spectacular, and becoming owners was one of the highlights of the trip. We are excited to begin planning other vacations...something we have never done before. We went to an awesome place called the Chicago Club...a 1927 Speakeasy. Totally cool...silent movies, a flapper, an old-time piano player and great old-time jazz and swing songs. We had a blast...and again...great food! Thanks Happy and NCBF...it was grand!
We did have a wonderful, relaxing vacation...much needed and it was awesome to be just the two of us for a few days. The weather was spectacular, and becoming owners was one of the highlights of the trip. We are excited to begin planning other vacations...something we have never done before. We went to an awesome place called the Chicago Club...a 1927 Speakeasy. Totally cool...silent movies, a flapper, an old-time piano player and great old-time jazz and swing songs. We had a blast...and again...great food! Thanks Happy and NCBF...it was grand!
9.15.2007
This is baby Lexi. She's beautiful. Don't you think?? Seriously, you don't HAVE to think it, just smile and nod your head slowly! This new 3D technology is amazing, and I am thrilled to be able to share the pictures with all of you! I am in awe.
Beautiful little smile. She knows that in just a little while she'll be with her Mama and Daddy out in the world for the very first time. I'd be smiling, too!
Praying...for real! Anyway, that's what I believe...probably praying that her Mama and Daddy will be cool and love her incredibly. Prayer already answered. Way cool.AAAHHH...the beauty and mystery of birth. Exceptional. Wonderful. Incredible. Awesome. And way, WAY cool.
9.06.2007
Ahhh...to sleep, perchance to dream.
Escape at Bedtime
by Robert Louis Stevenson
The lights from the parlour and kitchen shone out
Through the blinds and the windows and bars;
And high overhead and all moving about,
There were thousands of millions of stars.
There ne'er were such thousands of leaves on a tree,
Nor of people in church or the Park,
As the crowds of the stars that looked down upon me,
And that glittered and winked in the dark.
The Dog, and the Plough, and the Hunter, and all,
And the star of the sailor, and Mars,
These shown in the sky, and the pail by the wall
Would be half full of water and stars.
They saw me at last, and they chased me with cries,
And they soon had me packed into bed;
But the glory kept shining and bright in my eyes,
And the stars going round in my head.
Yes, I do love Robert Louis Stevenson...so simple...and this is, again, from my favorite book of poetry..."A Child's Garden of Verses."I have always been fascinated by the sky. It's beauty by day...but mostly, the night. The stars. The planets...the constellations.
"Dad, do you think there's people on other planets?"
"I don't know, Sparks. But I guess I'd say if it is just us... seems like an awful waste of space."
This quote/conversation is from "CONTACT" with Jodi Foster...between her and her father.
Now...do not go all cuckoo on me...I did not say I believed that there is life on other planets...I am not a UFO freak...or a Mormon.
I just wonder.
Sometimes, I wonder why DID God just throw a bunch of huge planets and stars into the sky and not tell anyone what they are there for?
Anyway...I digress...Orion...the Hunter, as mentioned in the simple little poem, is probably one of the oldest constellations. It is also one of the easiest to pick out. Orion is the legendary great hunter of the Greek mythology. It was said he was the most beautiful of men and the most skillfull of hunters. Unfortunately Orion accepted this praise with utter confidence it was true, and then some. He began boasting of his skills, claiming to have total superiouity over all creatures. Quite naturally, this annoyed the gods that be and they decided to punish him for his greatly inflated ego. Firmly believing in capitol punishment, the gods sent Scorpius, the scorpion to earth to sting Orion's foot, and kill him. Diana, an admirer of Orion (and his ego) implored the gods to place the great hunter in the sky to remember him by. This they agreed to, so long as they also placed the scorpion there to warn against such nasty crimes as ego. In Orion's last dying breath he begged not to be placed near the scorpion. And so, Orion dominates the winter skies while Scorpius' domain is the summer skies.
Sound familiar? One of the most beautiful of all men. Skilled at his craft. Big ego. Thought he was better than everyone else...and still, he had a follower. SOMEONE wrote that story. Not sure exactly who...anyone care to guess?? Let me know..okay? Back to my thought...
The story is familiar, like that of the most beautiful angel...greatly skilled...HUGE ego...thought he was better than his Creator...brought a third of the angels with him when he was thrown out of heaven. Remember?
Why is it so easy to believe the stories of the stars...and not the stories of the Bible? Why do we have such difficulty with the Truth? We are so willing to take hold of a thought that brings us a mild sense of belonging...and not a word of that brings us peace and clarity. The story of Orion is fictitious. Seriously...we ALL know that...RIGHT????
It seems so easily explained this way... the stars in the sky were put there at the amusement of the gods. To warn us...if we do something to anger them...well...you get the picture.
Reality...they were put there to...cause us to revel in God's wonder. In His greatness. In His vastness. The heavens are His home. We cannot venture to guess how vast the heavens are...how deep...how wide...how great. Another quote from the same movie (I do SO LOVE movies!):
"I... had an experience... I can't prove it, I can't even explain it, but everything that I know as a human being, everything that I am tells me that it was real! I was given something wonderful, something that changed me forever... A vision of the universe, that tells us, undeniably, how tiny, and insignificant and how... rare, and precious we all are! A vision that tells us that we belong to something that is greater then ourselves, that we are *not*, that none of us are alone! I wish... I... could share that... I wish, that everybody, if only for one... moment, could feel... that awe, and humility, and hope. But... That continues to be my wish."
This, after she denies the existence of God...then ventures on her "journey" and needs to explain what happened to her. "...we belong to something that is greater then ourselves,"
We DO belong to something...someone...greater than ourselves. And His love is as vast, as deep, as wide and as great as the heavens seem to our finite minds. I love to escape into the thoughts of what's really out there..I love to watch the sky...to see the incredible creation He put there just for me so I could wonder about Him...about His awesome hand not only in the heavens, but in my life. To escape.
by Robert Louis Stevenson
The lights from the parlour and kitchen shone out
Through the blinds and the windows and bars;
And high overhead and all moving about,
There were thousands of millions of stars.
There ne'er were such thousands of leaves on a tree,
Nor of people in church or the Park,
As the crowds of the stars that looked down upon me,
And that glittered and winked in the dark.
The Dog, and the Plough, and the Hunter, and all,
And the star of the sailor, and Mars,
These shown in the sky, and the pail by the wall
Would be half full of water and stars.
They saw me at last, and they chased me with cries,
And they soon had me packed into bed;
But the glory kept shining and bright in my eyes,
And the stars going round in my head.
Yes, I do love Robert Louis Stevenson...so simple...and this is, again, from my favorite book of poetry..."A Child's Garden of Verses."I have always been fascinated by the sky. It's beauty by day...but mostly, the night. The stars. The planets...the constellations.
"Dad, do you think there's people on other planets?"
"I don't know, Sparks. But I guess I'd say if it is just us... seems like an awful waste of space."
This quote/conversation is from "CONTACT" with Jodi Foster...between her and her father.
Now...do not go all cuckoo on me...I did not say I believed that there is life on other planets...I am not a UFO freak...or a Mormon.
I just wonder.
Sometimes, I wonder why DID God just throw a bunch of huge planets and stars into the sky and not tell anyone what they are there for?
Anyway...I digress...Orion...the Hunter, as mentioned in the simple little poem, is probably one of the oldest constellations. It is also one of the easiest to pick out. Orion is the legendary great hunter of the Greek mythology. It was said he was the most beautiful of men and the most skillfull of hunters. Unfortunately Orion accepted this praise with utter confidence it was true, and then some. He began boasting of his skills, claiming to have total superiouity over all creatures. Quite naturally, this annoyed the gods that be and they decided to punish him for his greatly inflated ego. Firmly believing in capitol punishment, the gods sent Scorpius, the scorpion to earth to sting Orion's foot, and kill him. Diana, an admirer of Orion (and his ego) implored the gods to place the great hunter in the sky to remember him by. This they agreed to, so long as they also placed the scorpion there to warn against such nasty crimes as ego. In Orion's last dying breath he begged not to be placed near the scorpion. And so, Orion dominates the winter skies while Scorpius' domain is the summer skies.
Sound familiar? One of the most beautiful of all men. Skilled at his craft. Big ego. Thought he was better than everyone else...and still, he had a follower. SOMEONE wrote that story. Not sure exactly who...anyone care to guess?? Let me know..okay? Back to my thought...
The story is familiar, like that of the most beautiful angel...greatly skilled...HUGE ego...thought he was better than his Creator...brought a third of the angels with him when he was thrown out of heaven. Remember?
Why is it so easy to believe the stories of the stars...and not the stories of the Bible? Why do we have such difficulty with the Truth? We are so willing to take hold of a thought that brings us a mild sense of belonging...and not a word of that brings us peace and clarity. The story of Orion is fictitious. Seriously...we ALL know that...RIGHT????
It seems so easily explained this way... the stars in the sky were put there at the amusement of the gods. To warn us...if we do something to anger them...well...you get the picture.
Reality...they were put there to...cause us to revel in God's wonder. In His greatness. In His vastness. The heavens are His home. We cannot venture to guess how vast the heavens are...how deep...how wide...how great. Another quote from the same movie (I do SO LOVE movies!):
"I... had an experience... I can't prove it, I can't even explain it, but everything that I know as a human being, everything that I am tells me that it was real! I was given something wonderful, something that changed me forever... A vision of the universe, that tells us, undeniably, how tiny, and insignificant and how... rare, and precious we all are! A vision that tells us that we belong to something that is greater then ourselves, that we are *not*, that none of us are alone! I wish... I... could share that... I wish, that everybody, if only for one... moment, could feel... that awe, and humility, and hope. But... That continues to be my wish."
This, after she denies the existence of God...then ventures on her "journey" and needs to explain what happened to her. "...we belong to something that is greater then ourselves,"
We DO belong to something...someone...greater than ourselves. And His love is as vast, as deep, as wide and as great as the heavens seem to our finite minds. I love to escape into the thoughts of what's really out there..I love to watch the sky...to see the incredible creation He put there just for me so I could wonder about Him...about His awesome hand not only in the heavens, but in my life. To escape.
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