If only the Mayans were right

If only the Mayans were right.

I'm not not talking about their practices or beliefs or general interpretations on life of course.

But rather about tomorrow. How amazing would it be if the world really did end tomorrow?

If Friday, December 21 was the end of the world that would mean that on Sabbath, December 22, I could see my Grandparents again.   It would mean that, should Christmas be celebrated in heaven, this December 25 we could sing O Holy Night with the angel choirs.

It would mean that the new year would bring a truly new life without the need for resolutions.

So while I'm pretty clear that our sun will rise on December 22, I can't help but feel a bit of disappointment with that statement.  

The wait continues for that day which C.S. Lewis describes in allegory in the last page of the Last Battle,  "But for them it was only the beginning of the real story.  All their life in this world and all their adventures in Narnia had only been the cover and title page: now at least they were beginning Chapter One of the Great Story, which no one on earth has read: which goes on forever: in which every chapter is better than the one before."

But if we wait it must be for good reason.  Peter reminds us in the text below:

"But the Lord is now slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness.  He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."
2 Peter 3:9

So until the day dawns and the morning star finally rises in our hearts, may we be faithful and may we continue to learn how to love God and one another.

The Greatest Risk of All

I'm scheduled to have Lasik surgery this week.  It's something I've thought about for years now and the pieces have finally come together for it to happen.

The thing is, even though I feel pretty confident in a positive outcome, there are risks involved.  Scenarios have been playing out in my mind over the last few days, what ifs, thoughts I probably shouldn't be dwelling on.

The reality is that however small the risk, there are still risks involved in any surgery. In this case the likelihood of a positive outcome significantly outweighs the very slight possibility of a problem.

But yet, even knowing this, the fear of the unlikely comes close to contriving me to cancel this surgery despite all the very good reasons I have to go forward.

Risks are hard.

And then I start to think about another risk that was taken over 2000 years ago.  Perhaps even before our world came into existence.

From the far reaches of the universe, in a city yet unknown to mortals, surrounded by thousands of stars, another risk was considered.

Are the people of Earth worth saving?  And at what cost?

For before there was a Christmas birth.  Before there were miracles.  Before the blind saw and the lepers were healed.  Before Gethsemane, and before the Glorious Resurrection, there was a choice.

Even though the risk was small, and the reward was great, there was still a risk.  What if clothed in human flesh, Jesus had sinned just once?  A horrible unlikely thought.  But a risk.

I don't think we can fully realize the magnitude of this Divine decision.

What if God considered, as I have in my tiny choice, is it worth it?  Should I cancel this procedure all together and be happy with what I already have?

But He didn't.  He choose to come.  And He proved to be Perfection itself, living life on Earth without blemish.  Never wavering, never taking His eyes off His Father and the glory set before Him.

No wonder he is King of Kings and Lord of Lords; our Conqueror, our Savior, and our Friend.

How grateful I am that we were worth the risk and that because of His eternal victory, we too can be more than conquerors through Him who loved us.

The Gauntlet

Do you ever feel like you are running through a gauntlet?  An invisible one of course, without hot coals or obvious weapons.

Rather a gauntlet of busyness and expectations; your own expectations and those of people who influence you.

One of decisions. Small every day choices like if you should have a soda with lunch and big decisions like whether or not you refinance your house or go back to school.

The question is when do you stop running?

Is it at the the end of the work day?  Or maybe Friday evening as you close out the work week?  Do you slow down when the dishes are finally done and your favorite show, or perhaps any semi interesting program, beckons from the T.V.?

Is life a gauntlet?

I don't have an answer for this question.  But I suspect the answer is somewhere between yes and no.

We currently live in a fallen world.  Paul says in 2 Timothy 4:7,  " I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race,  I have kept the faith."

This suggests that there may be days that feel like a struggle to get through.  And that's okay.  We have to keep living in faith.

But there is another side.  Jesus states in John 10:10.  "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."

In Isaiah 30:15 we find the Lord saying, "In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength."

Also in Matthew 11:28, Jesus says, "Come to me all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

Maybe a-take-away from this question is that some days, weeks and, sometimes months are harder than others.  But even when getting out of bed in the morning feels like a step of faith, God is present.  And there are so many moments of goodness even in an imperfect day.  Today for example I enjoyed a quick walk in the crisp air and saw a little cardinal chirping in a tree beside the path.  That was a a breath of joy.

And in general, I don't think life was meant to be full speed ahead all the time.  So if we are feeling overworked, stressed, or overwhelmed, perhaps it is time to seek rest in the shade of the Almighty God.

We were created after all for relationship, with God, with each other, with animals, and trees, and sunny days.

So as we say goodbye to yet another month in 2012, may the beginning of the next bring with it peace and rest, and may we continue to learn how to live a life worthy of the incredible calling we have received.

Book Review- Marta's Legacy

I recently read a mini series by Francine Rivers called Marta's Legacy.  (Her Mother's Hope and Her Daughter's Dream.)

I am a somewhat picky reader.  I know the themes I like, and there are many books that hold no interest for me.  But this was an excellent series.

It explores the relationships between mothers and daughters over 4+ generations, and passes the story telling baton between the women.  Marta is the main character, and she grows up in pre-war Switzerland.   She has a terrible relationship with her father and it is her mother who encourages her to "fly" and find her dreams.  However, she is traumatized by a family tragedy and ends up passing on well intentioned but less than perfect coping and relational skills to her daughter who continues the trend.

All the women in this story love God and strive to do what is right, but until Marta's grand granddaughter Dawn pulls some of the pieces back together, they struggle with misunderstandings and a way to express their love.

The trip through history and changing culture is interesting as is Marta's legacy of the importance of education, hard work, and trusting in God.

But it's the resolution of their differences, the crumbing of long build walls, the restoration of loving relationships that makes this book especially beautiful.   And the ability they find to look forward with peace and hope, knowing that their future is secure in Christ.

It's a great series and I recommend the read.

Restoration

A few weekends ago I was thick in the middle of cooking.  Onions sizzling on the stove.  Noodles draining in the sink and red pepper waiting to be chopped.   If I had only kept the chopping action on the cutting board, things would have continued smoothly.  But alas, I dared to slice the top of the red pepper against my thumb pressing a bit too hard and thus producing a long gash of blood, an unwelcome addition to the scene!

I quickly grabbed a towel to blot the cut and a new knife, determined to get the red pepper into the frying pan with the onions and the noodles rinsed.

Then I applied basic first aid to my injured thumb.

After spending much of the weekend in a band aid, the cut on my thumb began the healing process.  The red disappearing.  The skin becoming smooth again.  Now there is just a tiny white mark as evidence that there was once a cut in my skin.

Restoration.

The healing of an injury.

Things returning to what they were.

We were born into a world with an injury so deep and persuasive that it's hard to fathom life without it.  Through Christ we can be healed from our mortal wound.  We can be set on the path of life.  And one day we can be restored.

We can catch glimpses and moments of that restoration now.  Jesus said,  "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full."  John 10:10.

But restoration in its full power; its far reaching effects; its time changing, age reversing, sin deleting, love winning triumph is still to come. We long for restoration to a world we cannot even dream of, but yet deeply desire.  The memory of Eden is still in our DNA.  The image of our Creator still stamped on every fiber of our being.   And we are not alone.

Paul reveals in Romans,  "The creation waits in eager expectation for the sons of God to be revealed.  For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God."  Romans 8:19, 20.

Can you imagine the trees, the mountains, the birds, the lions together in each heartbeat crying out for freedom from their bondage?  Imagine their longings to be themselves what God made them to be.

The overwhelmingly good news is that restoration is coming.  We can live each day in freedom, joy and hope, knowing our future is secure as long as we belong to Christ.

Raindrops on Roses

Today after playing the words La and Fa in Words with Friends I found myself in the mood for the Sound of Music.  (Which wasn't a long stretch as its one of the few places I know where these words are actually used in a sentence!)  So while making dinner I entertained myself and Jewel with various songs from the movie.

One of the songs that came to mind was the famous song that begins, "Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens," where Froulein Maria thinks of her favorite things and finds herself cheered up upon the reflection.

While the songwriter chose a fanciful and endearing list of favorite things, I wonder if I have my own list of ordinary lovely things that cheer me up.

Perhaps if I re-wrote the tune I would add things like:

Weekends with no alarm set
A good book and a cup of coffee or tea
Sparkles on the ocean
The long, entertainment filled, eager, adventure awaiting flight to Europe
Jasmine blooming
And last but not least, Christmas Eve.  (Pictured below at my Mom's house.)

If you were to add a few favorite things to the song, what would you add?

Jesus Wept

"When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled."  John 11:33

There are a lot of things I don't understand in life.  Like why the terrible events of Colorado happened.  How a person could be so twisted.  How they could make that horrible irreversible decision.

There are also 'smaller' things I don't understand.  Why certain dreams seem take so long to come true.  Why some days seem to have a gloomy haze around them.

But one thing I do know is that Jesus cares.  The story above mentions again a few verses later, "Jesus, once more deeply moved came to the tomb."

It's comforting to know that God cares about our emotions and our hearts. That He has a heart that feels emotions too.

And that best of all He has a plan to rescue us from a world where our hearts feel sadness and loss and restore us to one where they dance with joy instead.

Are We Replaceable?

I had an interesting conversation the other day about the value of a person's individual contribution.  A reference was made to the saying 'everyone's replaceable.'


Working in HR, especially being part of the onboarding and offboarding process, I understand the point of this saying.  To a degree we are all replaceable.   At some point there will come a time for all of us when we will leave our positions, whether through job transfer or promotion or retirement, and we would generally hope there is someone who can step in after us to continue the work.


However, in another very real sense we are not replaceable at all.  I would venture to say, in many careers at least, that no one else can do your job exactly the way you can.  No one else can reach certain people the way you can.   No one else has the same combination of talent and character and personality as you do.


Consider Psalms 139:14


"I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well."


And also Ephesians 2: 10


"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us do."


Or this promise from Isaiah 49.


"Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne?  Though she may forget, I will not forget you!  See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands..."


So it would seem then that we are all uniquely equipped by our Creator God for the calling before us.  As Paul writes in Ephesians 4 let us live a life worthy of the call we have received. 

Everything you wished for

My husband and I recently bought the extended edition of Lord of the Rings.  I know I may be a little late to the party with this, but we are really enjoying watching the DVDs, in fact watching the extended edition is almost watching them again for the first time.

In the second movie, the Two Towers, there is a a scene that I find rather sad.   Arwen the beautiful elf Evenstar is deciding between remaining on Middle Earth to be with Aragorn who she loves or heading to the Undying Lands with her father Elrond and the rest of her people.

In a poignant speech Elrond reminds her that even if all she hopes for comes true and she marries Aragorn and he is crowned king, even if these wonderful things happen, she would still at some point lose him and come to death herself.

It's a thought progression that merits some reflection for us as well.  What if all the wonderful things we hope for in life come true?  The dream job, a happy marriage, healthy children.

Even if life on Earth goes well, there is still the silent march of time and age asking us to consider the question, what happens next?

In the book the Return of the King, Aragorn offers a hint of the answer.  On his deathbed he says to Arwen, "But let us not be overthrown at the final test, who of old renounced the Shadow and the Ring.  In sorrow we must go, but not in despair.  Behold!  we are not bound for ever to the circles of the world, and beyond them is more than memory."

While it is interesting to read of hints and illusions of such ideas, it is more valuable to know for certain one's true final destiny.

I don't always understand the Bible perfectly.  There are many verses and doctrines that people can debate.  But one thing I do understand is that the blood of Jesus paid the price for my sins and my failings.  And because of His great and incredible sacrifice, my future is secure in Him.  No matter what happens in life, I can know the ending.  Maybe not all the particulars, but enough to know the ending is really just the beginning.  The beginning of something more wonderful and good then even my imagination can create.

And that is Good News indeed!

Counting Blessings in the Rain

This evening is ushering in a rather melancholy mood for me.  Maybe it's the gallons of rain that continue to fall outside my window.  Maybe it's the end of the weekend.  Maybe its the distance from Florida to my hometown.

But regardless of the reasons, the fact remains that I feel a bit down.  I doubt I'm the only one to experience moments like this.  The question is, what do you do with them?

My husband provides a kind listening ear.  And watching some of the scenery and epic tales of Middle Earth bring diversion to my thoughts.

But unless I intend to spend all my remaining weekend time watching the extended version of Lord of the Rings or talking to my husband about my thoughts, I may need to add another option to my toolbox.

So I am counting my blessings.

There are a great many blessings in my life, too many to write down in this post, but here are a few of the things I appreciate and for which I am grateful.

1.  A garage and a house that shield us from the rain.
2.  New life.  I attended a baby shower today for a friend who is expecting a sweet baby boy.
3.  My thoughtful husband who made us a homemade blizzard treat.
4.  My pillow
5.  The library with its boundless supply of 'free' books.
6.  Good music like 1000 Reasons by Matt Redman.
7.  Game night with friends
8.  Our bird feeder that attracts many cardinals
9.  Family and friends both near and "far"
10.  At some point it will stop raining and the sun will shine again.

Flowers

I read a section of the poem Flowers by Longfellow in a little book shortly before my Grandpa died.   I think it is a very beautiful word picture and calls the mind to think on high things.

"In the cottage of the rudest peasant,
In ancestral homes, whose crumbling towers,
Speaking of the Past unto the Present,
Tell us of the ancient Games of Flowers;

In all places, then, and in all seasons,
Flowers expand their light and soul-like wings,
Teaching us, by most persuasive reasons,
How akin they are to human things.

And with childlike, credulous affection
We behold their tender buds expand;
Emblems of our own great resurrection,
Emblems of the bright and better land." 

-Excerpt from Flowers by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow.  Photo by Kristen Harmon

Be angry, and do not sin.

Tonight as I was winding down the evening heading towards bedtime, my little bird was hanging out with me.  She is very social and and is for the most part a well behaved sweet bird, but tonight something must have upset her because she bit me on the ear.

This made me angry and I quickly sought to get her off my shoulder and out of danger of biting me again.

But I thought about this after she was back in her cage.  What if in my anger I had been too rough with her?  She's a little bird after all and should be handled gently.  Even if she upset me for a moment, the fact is I like her and I don't want to hurt her.

The Bible advises us not to sin when we are angry in both Ephesians and Psalms.  I find this a helpful concept. It doesn't say not to ever get angry.  Sometimes things happen that rightfully cause feelings of frustration  It's okay to have a feeling.

The challenge is, what you do with the feeling.   I'm glad I didn't hurt my bird when she upset me.   But like a small bird, people's emotions can be fragile as well.

Psalms 4:4 says, "Be angry, and do not sin.  Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still."

This is pretty good advice.  Sometimes we need a cooling off period when something has caused a strong negative emotion.  But take a look at the rest of the Psalm.  It ends with peace and sleep.  That's a great promise.

"Be angry, and do not sin.
Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still.
Offer the sacrifices of righteousness,
And put your trust in the Lord.
There are many who say,
“Who will show us any good?”
Lord, lift up the light of Your countenance upon us.
You have put gladness in my heart,
More than in the season that their grain and wine increased.
I will both lie down in peace, and sleep;
For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety." Psalms 4:4-8 


(Biblegateway.com)

Community

This evening I took a walk to enjoy fresh air and cool temperature. While I was on my walk I stopped to talk with a neighbor about her beautiful flower garden.  This led to a conversation about the proper care of a rose bush and then to her visiting my aspiring garden and offering tips.

It's interesting how familiarity and shared interests can cause a neighborhood to feel more like a community.  I've lived here for awhile now but I don't know many people.  But when evenings grow longer and summer's warm breezes call for BBQs and gardening it makes it a little easier to cross paths and maybe even have something to talk about.

Every neighborhood may not feel like Mayberry.  Some people may not wish to live in a little town like that but it is important to have community somewhere.

While individuality is a valued trait in our culture,  there is also great value in connecting with other people and doing it regularly.

I think one of the reasons people think back fondly on high school and college years is their community of friends.  People to eat with, study with, vacation with, camp with, and splurge on TV night and popcorn with.  People who knew the ins and outs of daily life and the feeling of comfort associated with being around them.

Most of us don't stay in the college environment forever.  We grow up, get married, find jobs, have kids and generally become adults.  But the problem for some is that if friend groups change as life changes, do we maintain community?  Do we reach out to neighbors, church members, and/or colleagues to form friendships beyond shallow conversations and into the deep, comfortable zone of community?

Sometimes it takes intentionality to grow your community.  Other times it may be as simple as being present in the moments of your life and noticing the people you share them with.

For My Grandpa

A little boy left his home

Bound for somewhere new

With his Mother and Father

He entered the U.S. with one shoe.

His picture caught a lovely lady's eye

And when she saw him on the street

She introduced herself with a happy smile

Finally they could meet!

The lovely lady and handsome man

Were married 62 years

With 3 kids, 4 grandkids, and one great grandchild

They loved being near

Today we honor a faithful man

Who's resting from the race

Waiting for the trumpet blast

To call them both awake

So eagerly we await that day

When our hope is finally sight

Grandpa we will see you there

Thank you for your life of light.

-Kristen Harmon

April 9 2012

How Deep the Father's Love for Us

How deep the Father's love for us

How blessed beyond all measure

That he should give His only Son

And make a wretch His treasure

How great the pain of seering loss

The Father turns His face away

As wounds that mar the Chosen One

Bring many sons to glory

Behold the man upon a cross

My sin upon his shoulders

Ashamed I hear my mocking voice

Call out among the scoffers

It was my sin that held him there

Until it was accomplished

His dying breath has brought me life

I know that it is finished.

I will not boast in anything

No gifts no power no wisdom

But I will boast in Jesus Christ

His death and resurrection

Why should I gain from his reward?

I cannot give an answer

But this I know with all my heart

His wounds had paid my ransom.

-Words and Music by Stuart Townend

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bk-52Ci68CU&feature=related

The Final Four

March Madness is well underway for college basketball. Happily my husband's team made it into the Final Four this year!

It's an interesting concept to take multiple competing teams and through game after game narrow down all the teams to just four.

I wonder what would happen if we had a season of March Madness in our lives. If we took the things that compete for our time and one by one played them against each other to determine the most important pieces of our days.

What would be your final 4?

Would you have two distinct sets of winners, a weekend version and a work week version? Or would you find they all mesh together to produce 4 clear winners?

Also important to consider is what factors would you use to determine the winners? Would you consider amount of time spent or quality of time spent? Would you look at results gained by spending time in a particular area or perhaps the excitement you feel in those moments?

I know we all can have many different activities and priorities to juggle. It could be hard to focus on just 4 things. But I hope that we don't lose sight of what we hold most important in life no matter how many other distractions come our way.

Paul says, "Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:13-14

We Judge

Easy to say, easy to do

Compare you to me, compare me to you

My way seems clear, your way a mess

Are we searching for truth, or self righteousness?

Wisdom is good but how is our sight?

Is everything measured as wrong or as right?

Perhaps in the end, much will fade dim

But how we loved and followed Him.

-Kristen Harmon

The Basics of Life

Last week I started thinking about a song I hadn't heard in awhile. You might say it was from back in the day.

The chorus goes something like this:

'We need to get back to the basics of life. A heart that is pure and a love that is right. A faith that is fervently grounded in Christ. A hope that endures for all time. These are the basics. We've got to get back to the basics of life.' (Basics of Life by 4 Him)

As a side note if you youtube this song and then view some of the recommended other videos you can start an enjoyable journey through 90's Contemporary Christian music. Especially noteworthy are the outfits worn by Michael W. Smith.

Anyways. I really like this song. I like the reminder of faith that is fervently grounded in Christ and hope that endures for all time.

Sometimes its helpful to think big and enlarge our perspectives. But there are also times when its important to slow down and regain focus on the basics.

When asked about the greatest commandment Jesus said, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: "Love your neighbor as yourself." Matthew 22:37-39

So as we learn and grow and explore the dreams God plants in our hearts, let's remember to also stay grounded in the basics.

The abundant goodness of God

Psalms 145

A psalm of praise. Of David.

¹ I will exalt you, my God the King;
I will praise your name for ever and ever.
² Every day I will praise you
and extol your name for ever and ever.

³ Great is the LORD and most worthy of praise;
his greatness no one can fathom.
⁴ One generation commends your works to another;
they tell of your mighty acts.
⁵ They speak of the glorious splendor of your majesty—
and I will meditate on your wonderful works.^[b]
6 They tell of the power of your awesome works—
and I will proclaim your great deeds.
⁷ They celebrate your abundant goodness
and joyfully sing of your righteousness.

⁸ The LORD is gracious and compassionate,
slow to anger and rich in love.

⁹ The LORD is good to all;
he has compassion on all he has made.
¹⁰ All your works praise you, LORD;
your faithful people extol you.
¹¹ They tell of the glory of your kingdom
and speak of your might,
¹² so that all people may know of your mighty acts
and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
¹³ Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
and your dominion endures through all generations.

The LORD is trustworthy in all he promises
and faithful in all he does.^[c]
14 The LORD upholds all who fall
and lifts up all who are bowed down.
¹⁵ The eyes of all look to you,
and you give them their food at the proper time.
¹⁶ You open your hand
and satisfy the desires of every living thing.

¹⁷ The LORD is righteous in all his ways
and faithful in all he does.
¹⁸ The LORD is near to all who call on him,
to all who call on him in truth.
¹⁹ He fulfills the desires of those who fear him;
he hears their cry and saves them.
²⁰ The LORD watches over all who love him,
but all the wicked he will destroy.

²¹ My mouth will speak in praise of the LORD.
Let every creature praise his holy name
for ever and ever.

Psalms 145 NIV. BibleGateway.com

Love

If you google love today in .2 seconds you will get 8,910,000,000 results. That's an incredible amount of words about love.

Interestingly if you google God you get 1,940,000,000 results.

1 John 1:8 tells us that God is love. Thanks to BibleGateway.com and BlueLetterBible.org I was able to view this verse in different languages.

Dieu est amour.

Dios es amor.

Gott ist Liebe

Theos esti agape

The message is clear and simple throughout the translations.

God is love. Though love may momentarily appear to exist on google without God, in the fabric of reality and of eternity, it does not.

So if you find yourself, a friend or family member in need of guidance or help with a relationship or in need of love, I invite you to bring your requests before God. As the Creator of Love He is abundantly capable to provide beyond our greatest expectations.

Perspectives

Recently I listened to a devotional about the Word of God. I was reminded that there are parts of the world where you still can't legally access the Bible and run great risk if you own or share a copy.

In a world where information is easily accessible by a google search, its hard to picture people unable to read the sacred words at any given time.

How blessed we are to have access to the Word of God.

Psalms 119:11 says, "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you."

I invite you to continue to hide God's word in your heart and perhaps also if you feel led, to say a prayer for those who are searching for this word that God would guide them safely to His truth.

Screens

So many screens to catch my eye

Big screens, small screens, screens I pass by

They pay bills, share friends, and entertain

Though sometimes it seems my energy they drain

Useful, important, these screens are a tool

To communicate, and connect, but don't be a fool

Sometimes our eyes need to wander a field

Or look at a person not the screen that they wield

We can benefit from the progress technologies gives

But let's not forget, its our lives we must live.

-Kristen Harmon

Thought for Today

Kristen

It's just...fill in the blank

It rarely rains in Florida during the "winter" but the other day was a drizzly day from the page of northern states. I know we need the rain and in my head I'm grateful for it but that doesn't mean I particularly enjoy being rained on.

So when I voiced my slight gripe to an acquaintance that day, her response didn't sit well. It was something like: It's just water. Exactly. Water that gets my pants wet in the parking lot. Water that makes my hair have extra "style."

Now this is a mild case of the "It's just..." condition. But it's symptoms can be easy to miss, often seen in phrases like the following: It's just a sprain...toughen up. It's just a ball game. It's just an extra 10 min a day of exercise....no big deal.

And while there may be valid reasoning even truth in these statements, what is just a simple fact of life to me could be a real frustration or struggle for someone else.

So unless you know someone well enough to offer this teaching sortof advice in a helpful manner, let's be careful with the words, "It's just.."

Because there is no such thing as "just words."

The old and the new: thoughts from two smart men

Whether you prefer Mac or PC, most people acknowledge that Steve Jobs was a pretty smart man.

I recently watched his commencement speech from Stanford and was intrigued with the similarities in his section on life and death to another speech made in Ecclesiastes by a man who is often considered of the wisest men to walk the Earth.

Below are some excerpts on life and death from each of these men.

Excerpt from Steve Job's commencement speech at Stanford

"No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don't want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because Death is very likely the single best invention of Life. It is Life's change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now, you will gradually become the old and be cleared away. Sorry to be so dramatic, but it is quite true.Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary." (Quote from http://articles.businessinsider.com/2011-10-06/tech/30249828_1_college-tuition-calligraphy-adoption/3#ixzz1ie4OvWNU)

Excerpt from King Solomon's testimony

"I also said to myself, “As for humans, God tests them so that they may see that they are like the animals. Surely the fate of human beings is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath; humans have no advantage over animals. Everything is meaningless. All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return. Who knows if the human spirit rises upward and if the spirit of the animal goes down into the earth?” So I saw that there is nothing better for a person than to enjoy their work, because that is their lot. For who can bring them to see what will happen after them?"

-Ecclesiastes 3:18-22

Interestingly it seems to me like, wise as they were, both men were lacking an important piece of knowledge. We can know what will happen to us. And as children of God, death is not our destination, but life.

Check out the wonderful promise in 1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18

"Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope. For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever."

January

Every year it seems I'm amazed by it's passing and the beginning of another January. How does time go by so quickly?

Perhaps one reason we struggle with the passing of time is our fear of growing older, of things changing with each year: kids going to college or turning a milestone age that we aren't ready to reach.

How would we feel toward time if we didn't worry about its limitations but instead saw it as possibilities?

Ecclesiastes 3:13 states that God has set eternity in the hearts of men.

It's hard to fathom eternity within the bounds of human experience but yet my heart resounds with this thought from the ancient king. Yes, God has placed eternity in my heart. We were not meant to die. We were meant to eat of the tree of life and to live.

Sin entered this world and stole moments of life from many of us, but God sent his Son to restore our future. The moments lost are nothing compared to eternity gained.

We just celebrated the birth of Jesus, but as our pastor reminded us, the Christmas miracle is something to be celebrated all year. Not only are we saved from the bondage of sin but we are free to live the short moments of this life without fear. God has placed eternity in our hearts. And He has sent Jesus his only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. (John 3:16)

Praise God for time, not measured by limits of years but instead gifted to our hearts in the knowledge and hope of life eternal.