I AM A PIECE OF BOLOGNA

Yes, just a piece of bologna.

(By the way, why is that pronounced "buh–lo–nee" and not "bo–log–nuh"?

I just want to know…though in my case, a piece of baloney might be more accurate…just sayin’)

A piece of bologna – firmly sandwiched in between my grown sons and my aging parents.

In fact, there is an actual term called The Sandwich Generation. Truly – looked it up on Wikipedia:

The Sandwich Generation is a generation of people who care for their aging parents while supporting their own children.

So, that would be me.

My sons are 27 and 30 – (how did THAT happen??) – and my folks are 83 and 80. (Sorry, Mom, for divulging that…)

And here's how life is playing out right now.

Sons #1 and #2 have moved out, but they still need Mom from time to time. It seems that those boys who were soooo eager to grow up – ("You're so lucky, Mom. You're a grown-up. You don't have to go to school") – have finally discovered the ugly truth.

Being an adult isn't all it's cracked up to be.

Life just gets more complicated. The issues are more confusing, and the answers aren't as straightforward. The world does its seductive best to steer you away from following Jesus. Money concerns rear their ugly heads – and job security (when jobs can be found) isn't what it used to be.

So, my sons need me – for listening, for advice, for counsel, for faith wisdom, for help.

It's a good thing, a blessed thing, when your all-grown-up-adult-children turn to you. When they talk with you, and want to spend time with you. I see so clearly how God is still using me as their mother. And I am grateful for the privilege.

On the other end of the spectrum are my folks.

Who are becoming more and more like children.

They are becoming increasingly more dependent on me. Their lives are getting more complicated, with confusing issues and answers that aren't so straightforward. They are navigating a new journey through old age – and it's a treacherous path. They are sometimes scared, sometimes unsure – often just overwhelmed and daunted.

So, my parents need me – for listening, for advice, for counsel, for faith wisdom, for help.

It's a good thing, a blessed thing, when your aging-childlike-parents turn to you. When they talk with you, and want to spend time with you. I see so clearly how God is still using me as their daughter. And I am grateful for the privilege.

But boy oh boy, this bologna gets tired.

Those bread slices *sandwich* me pretty tight sometimes, and I am weary as of late.

There are times when I'm just at the end of what I can give. When I am unsure of what to say or do. When I don't have the energy to be what they need me to be. When my love doesn't seem like enough.

Does anyone understand?

As you know, I am having to spend more time with my parents. I recently spent a week with them. I truly hadn't felt like driving down there, but…

…they needed me.

And so I went.

And that is the essence of following another One who knows what it's like to be sandwiched.

Think about it.

Here's Jesus – firmly sandwiched between heaven and earth. Jesus – with the heart of God and of man within Him. An eternal being placed into time. Talking with God, and talking to humans. Capable of hearing angels, yet listening to critics. The Creator of Life, facing death.

Jesus – sandwiched between glory and dust.

Did He grow weary like me?

Oh yes, I'm sure He did. I can almost hear Him pray on the mountain, when He ventured there alone to speak with His Father:

"Father, there are times when I'm just at the end of what I can give. When I am unsure of what to say or do. When I don't have the energy to be what they need me to be. When my love doesn't seem like enough. Help me, Father."

So, why did He make the effort?

Because we needed Him.

Jesus did it out of love. 

A love that stretched beyond His weariness, and empowered Him with grace. A love that practiced patience, with sometimes difficult and stubborn people. A love that enabled Him to be a servant, when the work of serving was unrewarding. A love that listened and cared and forgave…

A love that stooped to wash the feet of some really dirty disciples.

A Love that died, so that we might reap the benefits.

So, I count it as a privilege that I have been called to be a piece of bologna. Because in some way, I feel like I am sharing in the great mission of sacrificial love that Jesus brought to this world – the love that Jesus brought to me.

I am serving Him by serving others.

And I count that a real joy and blessing.

(Could I just have a little more mayonnaise, please?)

I will bloom where I am planted.

"Sitting down, Jesus called the Twelve and said, 'Anyone who wants to be first must be the very last, and the servant of all.'"  (Mark 9:35, NIV)

"In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” (Acts 20:35, ESV)

"A generous person will prosper; whoever refreshes others will be refreshed." (Proverbs 11:25, NIV)

"Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full--pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back." 
(Luke 6:38, NLT)

"So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up." (Galatians 6:9, NLT)

"...serve one another humbly in love.  For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'" (Galatians 5:13-14, NIV)

How are you serving God when it's tough to do so?

(NOTE: This was a very timely re-post).

Linked today with:

Joan at SHARING HIS BEAUTY
Michelle at HEAR IT ON SUNDAY, USE IT ON MONDAY

Hazel at TELL ME A TRUE STORY

Jen at UNITE

Salina at HEART REFLECTED

Rachel at WHIMSICAL WEDNESDAY
Shari at WORD FILLED WEDNESDAY
Tracy at WINSOME WEDNESDAY
Judith at WHOLEHEARTED WEDNESDAY
Nannette at WISDOM WEDNESDAY
Rosilind at A LITTLE R & R WEDNESDAYS

Wanda at THE FRIDAY FIVE
Laura at FAITH FILLED FRIDAY

Charlotte at SPIRITUAL SUNDAYS
Leslie at FAITHFUL FRIDAY

Sandra at STILL SATURDAY

Barbie at WEEKEND BREW

Janis at SUNDAY STILLNESS

BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

"FAN THE FLAME" FRIDAY - Struggle

"Welcome to "Fan the Flame" Friday.

This is a weekly post that will be "short and sweet" (kinda like me...)

Just a word and a question (or few)…just a little something to
"fan the flame" of your creativity!

And, to further fan those faith-filled flames (try saying that 10 times in a row!) – I'm adding my favorite devotional from the week!


Today's word: struggle

What does the word struggle mean to you?

In what area(s) of your life do you struggle the most?  (Personal and/or faith)

What things have you learned in the middle of your struggle?  What have you learned after your struggle?

Do you think God honors us when we struggle?  If yes, how?


Let me know what you think!!


"Exert all your strength in the honourable struggle for the faith; lay hold of the Life of the Ages, to which you were called..." 
(1 Timothy 6:12, Weymouth NT)

"...this is the secret: Christ lives in you.  This gives you assurance of sharing his glory.  So we tell others about Christ, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all the wisdom God has given us.  We want to present them to God, perfect in their relationship to Christ.  That's why I work and struggle so hard, depending on Christ's mighty power that works within me." 
(Colossians 1:27-29, NLT)

"For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him.  We are in this struggle together.  You have seen my struggle in the past, and you know that I am still in the midst of it." (Philippians 1:29-30, NLT)

"Dear brothers and sisters, I urge you in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to join in my struggle by praying to God for me. Do this because of your love for me, given to you by the Holy Spirit." (Romans 15:30, NLT)



DEVOTIONAL OF THE WEEK:

(It's a long one - but oh so good!):

There are times when we are left alone to wrestle with God...At such times, God's Presence is painful but purposeful...It can be an intense, exhausting struggle, but eventually...we receive a blessing for having contended with God - and ourselves - face-to-face.  For your relationship with God to arrive at any depth, it has to include some of these wrestling matches...and it's sometimes a messy process...But it's a necessary one, and it leads to blessing...

Some see surrender as the purpose of Jacob's wrestling match with God - that Jacob had to come to the end of himself and submit to God's lordship...No, this wasn't about surrender; this was about contending with God and knowing His heart even in the intensity of a battle.  God honors spiritual intensity...Only the tenacious hold on to God in the midst of a wrestling match with Him and the relentless issues of life.  Hold on.  Go ahead and wrestle...[but] keep holding on anyway.  Stay in close contact with God, no matter how intense, and see into His heart.


*I won't let go until You bless me - I'll cling to You forever.


"...as a man he [Jacob] struggled with God.  He struggled with the angel and overcame him; he wept and begged for his favor.  He found him at Bethel and talked with him there - the Lord God Almighty, the Lord is his name!" 
(Hosea 12:3-5, NIV)


(Devotional from: "The One Year Experiencing God's Presence Devotional" by Chris Tiegreen, c. 2011, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.)


"This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you…For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline." (2 Timothy 1:6-7)


BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

WHINE FEST

No, not Wine Fest...

WHINE Fest.

I'm going to do something a little different.  I am going to write this post in the MIDDLE of feeling crabby.  I'm not going to wait until I'm past it.  I'm not going to wait until I feel all "spiritually intact" again.  I'm not going to write it when I've reached the praise part.

I'm just going to write it and see what happens.

So, yes, I am in the throes of a serious grumbling phase.  An unabashed valley of complaining.  

Yup, seriously disgruntled.

Is there a reason for my feeling this way?

Does there ever have to be a good reason??

I don't know what comes over me.  I can be sailing along (sorta), when all of a sudden everything feels wrong.  Nothing seems right, nothing seems good.

My feelings are hurt.  My face looks old.  My knees and neck and just about every other body part is painful.  Everything is a supreme inconvenience.  The computer isn't working fast enough.  I've gained back much of the weight that I so diligently lost four years ago – and kept off for over two years until I moved up here to the mountains.

Which leads me to my biggest gripe – my general discontent right now about where I live.

Oh, it's beautiful, all right.

Gorgeous mountain views out of every window.  Trees and wildflowers galore. Nature's wildlife visiting almost every day.

Lovely, lovely, lovely.

But I feel trapped.

On an island in the sky.

You see, for the past 1 ½ years, I've been making monthly trips back and forth from here to where I used to live.  Visiting family and friends, getting my hair done – (listen, if you get your hair colored and styled by someone you've known for YEARS, it's worth the extra effort – just sayin') – doing errands that can't be done up here, etc.

Oh, and eating at all the places that I miss.  A certain sandwich chain, a particular coffee-making place, a juice bar, a sushi place, an occasional Italian bistro.

Shopping at all the places that I miss.

Doing all the things and seeing all the faces that I miss…so much.

My trips have lasted longer in the last six months, as I've had to add care-taking to my downhill duties.  And, quite frankly, through no fault of their own, my parents' situation can be frustrating.

I know that I'm stressed and burned out.

I can tell.

My deliriously bad attitude is a clue.

Two days ago, the day before I was supposed to leave to come back up the hill, I realized something.  I actually don't feel like I belong anywhere right now.

I don't feel like l live down there anymore, but I still don't feel at home up here.

I am looking back and longing for my old life.

Sometimes I even want my really old life back.  The life when the boys were living in the house, and growing up with me, and we were having all these grand adventures.

I miss that…I miss them.

Everything's changed, and I can't seem to adapt to *everything* anymore.

Woe. Is. Me.

As in, Woe might as well actually be my middle name right now.

So, this is where I find myself today.  And this is where I'm writing from. From a place of discomfort and boredom.  A place of confusion and hurt.  A place of isolation and loneliness.

From an island in the sky.

"The Hub" is happier than a clam at high tide up here - (notice that I'm not even using a mountain metaphor here).  He likes being alone.  His inner mountain man is overjoyed at the natural world that surrounds us.  He has told me several times that he can't see any reason to ever go "off the hill" for anything anymore.

He is content.

Except for one thing.

His wife is not.

So, I also add a good portion of *spouse guilt* to the things I'm complaining about.  I want to have my own feelings, good OR bad, without having to feel like I'm bringing someone else down.

Can't I gripe alone?

(OK, at this point I am seriously wondering if this post is ever going to make it to publication…)

So, Lord, here I am.

With a huge heart full of too many feelings to feel, too many headaches to count (some of them are literal), too many weights on my shoulders…

Too many…too much.

What on earth do You want to say to me today while I am in this frame of mind?

Will I even listen??


"Stay still."

I heard it, but I don't want to.

"Lord, how much still-er can I get?  That is part of the problem.  I am bored to tears up here.  I am lonely.  It's all so quiet that I can't stand it anymore!  You're telling me to stay still??"

"I am.  Still, on the inside where it counts."

I am NOT wanting to hear this today.

"Lord, I don't want to stay still.  I don't want to let go of this mood.  I am entitled to feel crabby.  Everything in my life has changed, and I do not like many of the changes."

"I know.  But I am with you in the changes.  Let them happen.  For I have plans for you."

If He quotes Jeremiah 29:11 right now…

"I heard that."

"Sorry, Lord."

But honestly, the truth is that I have grown so weary of being the "good" Christian, so tired of being strong.  So worn out trying to have the right attitude.

I want to feel lousy.  Just for a day.  Just for a break.

"Do you understand that, Lord?"

"Yes, I do.  But I never, ever want you to forget something.  In the middle of your wilderness wandering, never forget the deliverance that I can bring."

Yes, deliverance.  That sounds good.

"Lord, I want deliverance.  I want out of here.  I truly don't want to live up here anymore.  I miss everything in my life that happens when I go back to where I used to live."

…pause...

"I want to go home.  And I don't know where home is anymore."

"Sharon, dear Sharon, My child.  Home isn't a place.  Home is where I live in your heart, and you live in Mine.  This is where you must abide. 

And remember, the Promised Land didn't deliver on the promise until many battles were fought and won.  Don't lose sight of the glory while you're still spilling your guts on the battleground."

Um, OK.

"Fight on, strong soldier."

He didn't just say that, did He?

"You think I'm strong, Lord?  Really??"

"Yes."

"How can you possibly think that?  I'm sitting in a pity pile here, holding on to a bad mood like meat from Egypt.  How on earth am I strong??"

"You are strong because you know you need Me.  And you have never, not once, let go."

He's right, I haven't.

"Have that mood of yours if you must.  It will pass.  But never lose sight of this.  You are just exactly where I want you, at just the time I want you there.  There is a reason.  Trust me."

Sigh.

My mood is dissipating…just a tiny bit.

"Sharon, is it really just Me?"

There it is – the same thing He has been saying to me over and over again for the last two years.

Is He still winnowing and pruning and lopping off the worthless things in me?

Is He still working on the ugly parts?

Oh Lord, please stop…

Oh Lord, please don't stop.


I am going to finish this now, and pray about whether I should post it or not. It's raw, it's not flattering…but it's totally honest.  And, it sorta ends on a positive note.

I heard from God.

I am bloodied by my battles, but not defeated.

And I am consoled in my complaining by the most powerful words I will ever hear in my entire lifetime…

"Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age, for I love you more than you will ever know."

Sigh…

"FLY WITH ME AND WE WILL SOAR"

Those who trust in the LORD will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not faint.

"'And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?'" (Esther 4:14, ESV)

"So be strong and courageous!  Do not be afraid and do not panic...For the LORD your God will personally go ahead of you.  He will neither fail you nor abandon you." (Deuteronomy 31:6, NLT)

"'And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.'" (Matthew 28:20, NLT)

"'I have loved you...with an everlasting love.  With unfailing love I have drawn you to myself.'" (Jeremiah 31:3, NLT)

"The fear of the LORD leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied..." (Proverbs 19:23, ESV)


Are you experiencing a valley of discontent right now?  What is God saying to you?


Linked today with:

Joan at SHARING HIS BEAUTY
Michelle at HEAR IT ON SUNDAY, USE IT ON MONDAY
Hazel at TELL ME A TRUE STORY
Jen at UNITE
Rachel at WHIMSICAL WEDNESDAYS
Jenifer at WORD FILLED WEDNESDAY
Tracy at WINSOME WEDNESDAY
Salina at HEART REFLECTED
Judith at WHOLEHEARTED WEDNESDAY
Nannette at WISDOM WEDNESDAY
Rosilind at A LITTLE R & R WEDNESDAYS
Gail at TGIF
Wanda at THE FRIDAY FIVE
Laura at FAITH FILLED FRIDAY
Mel at ESSENTIAL FRIDAYS
Leslie at FAITHFUL FRIDAY
Charlotte at SPIRITUAL SUNDAYS
Patricia at STILL SATURDAY
Barbie at WEEKEND BREW
Janis at SUNDAY STILLNESS


BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

"FAN THE FLAME" FRIDAY - Pruning

"Welcome to "Fan the Flame" Friday.

This is a weekly post that will be "short and sweet" (kinda like me...)

Just a word and a question (or few)…just a little something to
"fan the flame" of your creativity!

And, to further fan those faith-filled flames (try saying that 10 times in a row!) – I'm adding my favorite devotional from the week!


Today's word: pruning

What does the word pruning mean to you?

What makes spiritual pruning such a difficult process?

In what ways is God pruning you at this time in your faith journey?

What do you think He's trying to accomplish with His pruning?


Let me know what you think!!


"'I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener.  He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn't produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more.  You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you.  Remain in me, and I will remain in you.  For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.  Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches.  Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit.  For apart from me you can do nothing.'" (John 15:1-5, NLT)

"...planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God.  They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, 'The Lord is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.'" (Psalm 92:13-15, NIV)

"The crucible for silver and the furnace for gold, but the LORD tests the heart." (Proverbs 17:3, NIV)



DEVOTIONAL OF THE WEEK:


The picture of a life-giving connection between a vine and its branches would sustain [the disciples] in the time to come...Jesus began his teaching on the vine and the branches by identifying the vine...The picture of remaining or abiding in the vine sets up the process of seasons of pruning...an ongoing process tended to by the Gardener...Submit yourself to God, the Gardener, for whatever pruning he sees fit.  But ask him to help you be aware of the work he is doing in your life, so that you may benefit fully from the "trimming," for your good and his glory.


*The evidence of abiding lies in fruitfulness now, in the present.


(Devotional from: "Life Application Study Bible Devotional - The Gospels" by Dave Veerman and Neil Wilson, c. 2011, Livingstone Corporation)


"This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you…For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline." (2 Timothy 1:6-7)


BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

GOD IS IN THE DETAILS

I am a master of disguise.

There is not a flaw that has bested me yet.

If you're a perfectionist like me, you notice that just about everything has a flaw or two (or eighty).  Furniture, carpet, tile, cabinets, paint, clothing, collectibles, etc.

And flaws are my nemesis.

Armed with my arsenal of colored pencils, multi-colored Sharpie pens, various colors of wood putty, acrylic paint, a lead pencil, a black and a blue ballpoint pen – AND my *tools of the trade* – tweezers, scissors, glue, brushes, and two pairs of glasses – I am a Fixer Extraordinaire.

If something has a chip or a stain or a snag or a scratch – I am your woman.

Some of my best work has included:

The dented nose of a cigar store Indian – (paint, colored pencils, brush).

A ripped and unraveled patch of carpet – (glue, tweezers, scissors).

An area of missing stain on a cabinet – (wood putty, colored pencils, lead pencil).


Actually, you might enjoy this little story about my absolute finest moment.

Several years ago, the sons and Marty (the grandbeagle) were staying downstairs with my parents while they were renovating their upstairs apartment.  Marty, The Beagle Who Cannot Be Trusted, was watched like an eagle.

However, Marty is also The Beagle Who Is Very Sneaky.  And one night, while everyone was watching television, Marty was busy.  Oh, it looked like he was just lying down in his little pen in the middle of the living room.  (I know – I was there).  But no, he was actually gnawing and nibbling away at my parents' carpet.

Yes, call him The Stealth Chewer.

Fortunately, my dad went to bed before the damage was discovered.

But when we saw Marty's carpet work, we were shocked.  A decent-sized piece had been completely destroyed – right in the middle of the room!

Great, now what?

Well, I told the boys not to panic, we would figure it out.

So, step #1:  Look under all the furniture to see which carpet would be the best color match, roughly the same nap, and the least likely to be noticed missing.

Step #2:  Having determined that the best replacement candidate was underneath a very heavy coffee table, move said table.

Step #3:  Using boxcutters – (oh, I should have mentioned that in my above-cited arsenal) – remove patch of carpet.  Replace table.

Step #4:  Place new patch into old hole and glue down.  Evaluate.  Uh, not good.

Step #5:  Use various "tools" to work the edges into the surrounding nap. Push and pull and tamp down and pinch up.  Over and over again.  Not bad.

Except for the oh-so-obvious difference in the color.  Wow, carpet really, really darkens over time.  So, the three of us just stared at the carpet for the longest time.

(Mom was there too – but her *slightly-less-than-helpful* suggestions included putting a table or chair in the middle of the room or making sure that she was talking to Dad and pointing at the ceiling every time he entered).

What a dilemma.

Until Son #2 said this:

"You know how they use tea to make things look old?  I wonder if soda would work…"

Which is how Step #6 happened:  Pour cola on patch of carpet.  Soak up excess with paper towel.  Don't rinse and repeat.

I can't tell you how perfect the match was.  How much the new patch blended in with the darker surroundings.  How inspired this *fix* was.

How my dad never found out about it.

How Marty always seemed to prefer that particular area of the living room.

That old carpet has since been replaced – not because of our problem, mind you – and no one was the wiser.  Except, I've always wondered if the installers were puzzled by how easily that one area of the carpet came up, and why it was so sticky!  HA!


So, yes, flaws are my nemesis.

And that is why I found myself on my hands and knees in my parents' driveway a few days ago.

You see, the sons had a very important trade show to attend, and they needed to construct a booth for their company.  My dad has every tool you can imagine in his workshop, so the project happened at his house.

Wood, screws, saws, hammer, nails, paint – the finished product was a work of art. Finished in the nick of time, just before the sons left at 3 AM for a long trip to Phoenix.

Later that morning, I went out to inspect the clean-up effort.  Pretty good, but not up to the standards of my dad.

For one thing, there were black drips of paint on the garage floor and pink latex primer paint dripped all over the driveway.

Sigh.

So, I used a screwdriver to chip up the black paint.  That went pretty well. But the pink primer was another story altogether.

You might be wondering why I didn't use paint thinner or turpentine.

Well, my parents have kind of a special driveway.  Completely made up of little pebbles all cemented in.  And it's old.  So, besides the fact that there was no paint remover handy, I also didn't want to take the chance of wrecking the driveway with a harsh chemical.

That is why I labored with a screwdriver and a boxcutter to scrape and peel and strip up the pink primer paint.

Got most of it off.  

But good is not good enough for my dad's standards.

So, I proceeded to hand-pencil every single pebble that had any pink residue left over.  Fortunately, there were some black shiny pebbles, so I could use a Sharpie on them.  At first I noticed that the pencil (or Sharpie) ended up looking a little too shiny.  So, I perfected a technique of applying pencil or pen, and then rubbing with my finger.  Repeat to give a more natural finish.

I know.

Perfection.

It took me a few hours.

And so, I had plenty of time to ponder.


I got to thinking about God.  

About God and His very perfect world that He created.  About God and how His very perfect world got all messed up.

He had to have looked on in dismay at all the drips and dribbles of sin that had spilled on His perfection.

It had to make Him feel frustrated, knowing that He had clean-up work to do.

Frustrated, yes, but His love propelled Him to do it.

I felt frustrated that I had clean-up work to do.  It was disheartening to be left with the aftermath.  But I also knew that I was the only one who could do it.  And I did it because I love my boys.

God is the same.  

No, God is better…


As I belabored over every single paint-stained pebble, I thought of how God works in me.

He inspects me closely, and sees even the tiniest remnants of sin.

He takes His time, inordinate amounts of time, to fix my mistakes and work on my flaws.

He scrapes away my false hypocrisy, and peels away my layers of selfishness, and strips away the sins that so easily trip me up.

And, even then, He is not finished.

For good is not good enough for my Heavenly Father's standards.

So, He painstakingly pencils in the empty spots with His righteousness. He covers my stains with His blood.  He rubs my spirit with His finger, until I am made like new.

He works and toils and labors over me.

OVER. ME.

Because He loves me…

…and flaws are His nemesis.

But He has never met a flaw that has bested Him.  For He died on a Cross for every flaw that ever did or ever will happen.

He possesses the ultimate tools in His arsenal to fix the mistakes, to redeem the flaws, to restore the blemished, to fill up the cracks, and to make it all right again – to make it all RIGHT again.


I know.

Perfection.

I was reminded of that while on my knees on a pebbled driveway a few days ago.

And it brought tears to my eyes.

God weaves His perfection in me. 

"May you always be filled with the fruit of your salvation--the righteous character produced in your life by Jesus Christ--for this will bring much glory and praise to God." (Philippians 1:11, NLT)

"It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God--that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption." 
(1 Corinthians 1:30, NIV)

"For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God." (2 Corinthians 5:21, ESV)

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20, NIV)

"Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come." (2 Corinthians 5:17, NASB)


What does God’s attention to detail mean to you?


Linked today with:

Joan at SHARING HIS BEAUTY
Michelle at HEAR IT ON SUNDAY, USE IT ON MONDAY
Hazel at TELL ME A TRUE STORY
Jen at UNITE
Darlene at TITUS 2SDAY
Tracy at WINSOME WEDNESDAY
Rachel at WHIMSICAL WEDNESDAYS
Shari at WORD FILLED WEDNESDAY
Gail at TGIF
Laura at FAITH FILLED FRIDAY
Mel at ESSENTIAL FRIDAYS
Wanda at THE FRIDAY FIVE
Charlotte at SPIRITUAL SUNDAYS
Patricia at STILL SATURDAY
Barbie at WEEKEND BREW
Janis at SUNDAY STILLNESS


BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

"FAN THE FLAME" FRIDAY - Resist

"Welcome to "Fan the Flame" Friday.

This is a weekly post that will be "short and sweet" (kinda like me...)

Just a word and a question (or few)…just a little something to
"fan the flame" of your creativity!

And, to further fan those faith-filled flames (try saying that 10 times in a row!) – I'm adding my favorite devotional from the week!


Today's word: resist

What does the word resist mean to you?

What are some things you resist doing for other people and/or the Lord?

Why do you think we resist God's leading and His ways?

What are some very practical ways we can resist the enemy?

*(Even though the verses about putting on the armor of God are AWESOME, I want to know what that armor looks like - for YOU!!)


Let me know what you think!!


"Therefore, put on every piece of God's armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm." (Ephesians 6:13, NLT)

"Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings." 
(1 Peter 5:9, NLT)

"Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." (James 4:7, ESV)



DEVOTIONAL OF THE WEEK:


Jesus and the Father are united as one, and those who believe are united with them.  The Resurrection is confirmation of these things...Life is new...Few Christians feel Resurrection power coursing through them, but according to the Word, we are one with the risen Lord...[That means] we walk through trials and tribulations with an ability to overcome them.  Today's troubles are tomorrow's trophies for those who are filled with God's Presence.  Recognize the power at work in you and choose to live in it.


*Enable me to live my life in Resurrection power.


(Devotional from: "The One Year Experiencing God's Presence Devotional" by Chris Tiegreen, c. 2011, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.)


"This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you…For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline." (2 Timothy 1:6-7)


BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

PUPPET ON A STRING

Today I'm going to talk about puppets.

Not hand puppets like Kermit or Miss Piggy.

Marionettes – puppets on strings.

My sons' father's grandparents were fascinated by them.   

They once visited a show put on by a famous puppeteer named Tony Sarg:

"Anthony Frederick Sarg (April 21, 1880 - February 17, 1942), known professionally as Tony Sarg, was a German American puppeteer and illustrator. He was described as "America's Puppet Master", and in his biography as the father of modern puppetry in North America.  In 1928, he designed, and his protégé Bil Baird built tethered heilium-filled balloons up to 125 feet (40 m) long, resembling animals, for the New York institution of Macy’s department store…these participated in the store's Thanksgiving Parade." - (from Wikipedia article)

Well, evidently Grandpa and Grandma S weren't content just being audience members.  They were very creative people, and were inspired by what they saw.  So they went home and decided to make some marionettes of their own.

Grandpa S set about to painstakingly hand-make the molds, and then to pour the plaster-like material into the molds.  Various body parts were then attached to each other.  Intricate workmanship that took hours was involved in stringing the inner mechanisms with black fishing line.

Marionettes are not simple projects.

Grandpa then painted the faces of the characters that he had created. Grandma S designed and sewed the little costumes.  The *troupe* had two sizes of marionettes – 24" and 36".  They had clever names like:

Patrick O'Toole – a tap-dancing hobo
Sadie the Seal – an acrobatic circus seal
Mr. Bones – an articulated skeleton who loved dancing
Eddie Somebody – a banjo player extraordinaire

(Can you tell these were made in the 1930's??)

Grandpa and Grandma performed many shows, entertaining children and adults alike.

Eventually they included their only son, Jack, in the performances.  But alas, life has a way of happening, and after awhile, the marionettes were relegated to the garage.

Stored, but not forgotten.

There they sat, for many years, until the boys' father decided to bring them back alive.  Dusted off and re-strung, the troupe was once again ready to perform.

I'm sure many events were made a little more magical because of this wonderful traveling band of puppet entertainers.

One of the acts was performed by two circus clowns on parallel bars.  They were named "Mike and Ike."

It took a lot of practice to learn how to manipulate the strings.  It took a lot of time to learn the complicated routine.  It took even longer to perfect the ability to work in perfect unison.


So, there is a reason I'm remembering these marionettes today.

I'm thinking about what controls us.

Yes, we have been given the awesome and sometimes awful gift of free will.

We have the ability to make choices.

And yes, sometimes these choices are not good ones.  But I'm thinking about what lies behind the choices.  

The motives, the impulses, the compulsions.

What is it that pulls our strings?


In the book of Romans, Chapter 7, Paul has an interesting monologue about just that.  He talks about being controlled by our old sin nature.  He speaks of how we are slaves to the flesh.

About how we do what we don't want to do – and we don't do what we want to do.

But, are we just the helpless victims of imperfect motives, raging impulses, and forceful compulsions?

Are we hopelessly going through the motions under the control of the enemy's string-pulling?

No, we still have free will.

But without Jesus, that free will is terribly flawed.  That free will is still subject to the slavery of sin.  That free will is still ruled by self – and SELF is a terrible puppeteer.

As Paul lamented, "Oh, what a miserable person I am!  Who will free me from this life that is dominated by sin and death?"


Ah, but we have also been given another choice.

A choice to willfully turn from sin, and to put ourselves under the direction of the Lord.  We can freely choose Him as our Savior, and surrender our wills to His Holy Spirit.

We can yield our control to Someone else.

It isn't always easy.

It can take a lot of practice to learn how to release the strings.  It can take a lot of time to learn the complicated routine – the Christian life isn't easy.  It can take even longer to perfect the ability to work in perfect unison with the Spirit's guidance.

But, the finished product can be a beautiful thing.


A creature moving at the behest of a Loving Master.

The One who holds the strings to the universe – and never lets go of mine.

Are you a puppet,
or are you alive in Christ? 

"So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.  And because you belong to him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin…God declared an end to sin's control over us by giving his Son as a sacrifice for our sins…those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit.  So letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death.  But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace…you are not controlled by your sinful nature.  You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you." (From Romans 8, NLT)


Who or what is pulling your "strings"?


(***NOTE:  The above picture is NOT the marionettes.  I don't have photos of the marionettes, so I used the nutcrackers that the sons made when they were in 6th grade!!)


Linked today with:

Joan at SHARING HIS BEAUTY
Michelle at HEAR IT ON SUNDAY, USE IT ON MONDAY
Hazel at TELL ME A TRUE STORY
Jen at UNITE
Darlene at TITUS 2SDAY
Rachel at WHIMSICAL WEDNESDAYS
Tracy at WINSOME WEDNESDAY
Shari at WORD FILLED WEDNESDAY
Gail at TGIF
Mel at ESSENTIAL FRIDAYS
Wanda at THE FRIDAY FIVE
Charlotte at SPIRITUAL SUNDAYS
Laura at FAITH FILLED FRIDAY
Patricia at STILL SATURDAY
Barbie at WEEKEND BREW
Janis at SUNDAY STILLNESS


BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

"FAN THE FLAME" FRIDAY - Servant

Welcome to "Fan the Flame" Friday.

This is a weekly post that will be "short and sweet" (kinda like me...)

Just a word and a question (or few)…just a little something to
"fan the flame" of your creativity!

And, to further fan those faith-filled flames (try saying that 10 times in a row!) – I'm adding my favorite devotional from the week!


Today's word: servant

What does it mean to be a servant?

What are some of the ways a person can be a servant?

When was a time in your life when you were called to be a servant, but it was really hard to serve?

What are some of the rewards of being a servant?


Let me know what you think!!


"'But among you it will be different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant...'" (Matthew 20:26, NLT)

"If the master returns and finds that the servant has done a good job, there will be a reward." (Matthew 24:26, NLT)

"'His master said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.'" (Matthew 25:23, ESV)

"'Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.'" (John 12:26, NIV)



DEVOTIONAL OF THE WEEK:


Once again, Jesus teaches his disciples by doing something that dumbfounds them...On this night he demonstrates a humility that will only be exceeded when he goes to the cross...[The disciples] are still hoping for a Messiah to exalt...Jesus' demonstration of love and servanthood lives on as a reminder to believers...Service doesn't demean one's dignity; rather, as Jesus shows, it defines it.


*Teach me to be a servant when it's difficult to serve.


(Devotional from: "Meet the Bible" by Philip Yancey and Brenda Quinn, c. 2000, Zondervan Publishers)


"This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you…For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline." (2 Timothy 1:6-7)


BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"