"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 - Refine (New Format!)

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: refine

What does the word refine mean to you?

Why does God want to refine us?

What is God using in your life to refine you?


"'I will bring that group through the fire and make them pure.  I will refine them like silver and purify them like gold.'"  (Zechariah 13:9, NLT)


Let me know what you think!!              


DEVOTIONAL OF THE WEEK:

"What a chain of graces could overflow from tribulation.  It is in the furnace that faith is tested, patience is tried, and where all those rich virtues are developed that make up Christian character.  It is while they are passing through deep waters that God shows how close He can come to His praying, believing saints."


*Thank You for drawing close to us when we need You most.


"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)


(Devotional: From "The Power of Prayer" by E. M. Bounds, c. 2007, Christian Art Gifts, RSA)


BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

MY MIRROR IMAGE

Do you remember that song by Michael Jackson – Man in the Mirror?

"I'm starting with the man

in the mirror,

I'm asking him to change

his ways…"

So, the other day I took a good look at myself in the mirror, and I'm thinking about making some changes.

No, I'm not getting plastic surgery.

Though I am wildly tempted when I see those commercials for The Lifestyle Lift.

However, with my luck, something would go wrong.  The doctor would probably nick a nerve, and I would be left with a permanent twitch – which would be interpreted by people as a wink – which would then result in multitudes of 60-year-old men following me home.

Or…

The doctor might sever a small muscle in my face, and I would be left with half of my face frozen – which would make people wonder why I was mad or sad all the time – even though they sometimes wonder that now – but I like to have the *option* of smiling.

I'M. JUST. SAYIN'.

However, I'm not getting plastic surgery.

But I have taken a good long look in the mirror.

It hasn't been pretty.

For the most part, I usually think that I'm a pretty good disciple of Jesus.  I'm following Him closely, doing my devotionals, reading my Bible, attending church, praying…thinking I'm looking like Him more and more.

But lately, when I've looked in the mirror – I've seen the cracks in my spiritual armor.

Wanna know what I've seen? 

Petty Jealousy.

Suspicious mistrust.

Bitter anger.

Judgmental attitude.

Grudge-holding.

Snide comments.

Unkind thoughts.

I could add more, but I am so embarrassed to admit even these things.  Sure, certain circumstances are taxing my strength right now – they're trying my patience – they're testing my ability to cope.

But honestly, coming face-to-face with the deeper layers of sin in my heart has been excruciating.

I've lived in my new mountain home for a year now – and I can honestly say that I've never grown in my faith as much as I have in this last year.

I feel like God has been removing my "props" – shaving off the things that have always made me feel secure.  Friendships have faltered, familiar places have disappeared.  My parents are getting older – my dad has even begun to forget who I am from time to time.

It's all been very hard.

But now, the Lord is pruning even more of the ugly branches off my sin-filled tree.  He isn't content with me being a pretty good disciple – He wants me to look like Him…really.

Evidently, He doesn't just want to change me – He wants to refine me.

I looked up the process of refining in Wikipedia.  I read this:

"Refining consists of purifying an impure material…in refining, the final material is usually identical chemically to the original one, only it is purer."

I got to pondering that.

God's refining work doesn't destroy me – it just makes me purer.

I like the sound of that.

I have not enjoyed seeing the truth about me – the deeper truth.  The things that I really didn't know were lurking under the surface until certain circumstances brought them out.

My mirror image needs some work.

And yet, I wonder at the Lord's timing.  It's like I feel like I somehow just graduated from elementary school, only to find out that He wants me to go to college!  Does He think I'm ready for this?  Is He thinking that it's time for me to die a little more (a lot) to my self?

Yes, I think that's exactly what He's thinking.

I've been quite chagrined, mortified, ashamed to see these snaky, black, and ugly sins crop up inside of me.  How could I have not known they were there? 

"'The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?  But I, the LORD, search all hearts and examine secret motives.'"  (Jeremiah 17:9-10, NLT)

And so, at this time in my life, God has decided to burn these things out of me.

Cost of discipleship.

High cost indeed. 

But worth the priceless treasure of knowing God in an even more intimate way.  

Worth the priceless treasure of being a reflection of His Son.  

Worth the priceless treasure of ridding myself of sins that I didn't even know I harbored deep within.

Worth the priceless treasure of refined gold…

Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

"Put me on trial, LORD, and cross-examine me. Test my motives and my heart."  (Psalm 26:2, NLT)

"Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.  Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life."  (Psalm 139:23-24, NLT)

"'I will bring that group through the fire and make them pure.  I will refine them like silver and purify them like gold.'"  (Zechariah 13:9, NLT)

What does God want to *refine* in 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
Darlene at TITUS 2SDAY
Tracy at WINSOME WEDNESDAY
Charlotte at SPIRITUAL SUNDAYS


(SIDENOTE:  I hope all you former Google Reader readers out there find a way to find me!  I cherish your company as we walk out this journey called LIFE!)


BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

"FAN THE FLAME" FRIDAY - Righteousness

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 phrase, a sentence or a question...just a little something to "fan the flame" of your creativity!


Today's word: righteousness

What do you think the word righteousness means?

How would you define God's righteousness?

What does it mean to you to be able to *put on* the righteousness of Jesus?


Let me know what you think!!


"Yes, everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him.  I no longer count on my own righteousness through obeying the law; rather, I become righteous through faith in Christ.  For God’s way of making us right with himself depends on faith." (Philippians 3:8-9, NLT)


"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!"

FLAWED

Ooooo…

How I hate that word.

A little background.

When "The Hub" and I moved up to our new mountain home, it wasn't quite new.  It definitely needed a little TLC.  The house had stood empty for almost two years.  Notice I said empty – not unoccupied.  Nope, the three little mice – and about a thousand of their closest personal friends – had had quite a heyday on the property.

We found *remnants* of their occupation all over.

I learned three things about mice:

1.  They are not particular about their bathroom habits.
2.  They like to chew and scratch and gnaw.
3.  They leave their mummified carcasses in the most disturbing places.

We had quite a time convincing them that the house was too small for them and us.  We insisted, they complied.

Oh, I also learned that moths enjoy an empty house, too.  And they lose their wings and body parts faster than I am losing brain cells.  I just want to know how they got in???

But I digress.

When we moved in, there was definitely work to be done.  New carpet, new paint, new tile, and a new kitchen.

We had done some remodeling on our *older* home down the hill – just to help the resale value of a 36-year old tract home.  But, whenever something wasn't perfect, I was able to let it go – knowing that this wasn’t the "final place."

Not so up here.

Every change we make is permanent.  This is THE house we're going to live in.  So, the changes loom a little (a lot) more serious.

Well, let me just say this – though we have had very, very good craftsmen doing the work on our house, there are mistakes.

The work is flawed.

I find that I go into "Incessant Inspector" mode rather quickly…and easily.

"The Hub" says I'm negative.

I say I'm particular, with an eye for detail.

So, as I've made my rounds, checking out the finished product, I've asked myself these questions:

Why can't painters make a clean line on baseboard?  Or ceilings?  Or corners?

Why would you put the same tile so close to one just like it?  How hard would it be to spin it to make it look like a different tile with a different design?

Why put so many plain tiles, or patterned tiles, so close together?  Can't you mix it up?

Why do carpets have to have weird little bumps in them?

Why can't cabinets "take the stain" in an even pattern?

Don't get me wrong, the finished work is really good.  And I have had some input throughout the ongoing process.  However, one cannot stand over a contractor and tell him how to do his work every step of the way.  (I'd love to – but "The Hub" did not allow me to do so…)

"The Hub" tries to be helpful with these endearing sentiments:

"At least it's done."

"It looks good to me."

“You can't do anything about it now."

"You want to do it yourself?"  (Though he's being facetious, the thought has crossed my mind).

Here's the rub – we're not done yet.

So I have visions of mismatched granite, appliances that won't fit into their respective spaces, chipped sinks, leaky faucets, etc.

Grrr…

Now, I admit to being a perfectionist…(particular, eye for detail).

But still.

It really, really bugs me.

Do you know that I've actually *corrected* a few tile flaws with colored pencil???

Yes I have – reminiscent of my cigar store Indian escapade (here).

Flawed.

The word just keeps ruminating in my mind.

Dictionary definition:  Blemished, damaged, or imperfect in some way. Containing a mistake, weakness, or fault.

Sharon's Acrostic Dictionary definition:

F aulty
L acking
A wry
W rong
E rrant
D efective

Flawed.

Yup, how I hate that word.

But, the other night I got to thinking.  (It was all I could do as I lay sleepless, pondering the mismatched tile…)

I don't think I'm alone in my quest for perfection.  Nor in my sorrow when it doesn't happen.

I wonder about God.  I wonder how He feels.  Here He created this perfect world, these perfect creatures, these perfect humans.  It was all good…

Actually better than good – it was flawless.

I wonder how He felt when we messed it all up.

I can only imagine how His heart broke when we ruined His work.  When He watched us make mistakes.  When we painted outside of the lines.  When we messed up the pattern.  When the smooth path of obedience got bumpy.  When our hearts became stained with sin.

I think He mourned…deeply.

God, the Ultimate Perfectionist, the Flawless Potter, looked at His sin-filled lumps of clay…and cried.

I'm convinced of it.

He understands the dismay, the discouragement of imperfection.

How could He bear it?

The Holy One feeling the pain of unholiness invade His work…

I began to see how foolish it was for me to be so focused on temporal imperfections.  There are bigger things at stake here.

And then I thought of something else…

There is someone who comes before the throne of God every day and points to me and shouts his accusation:

"FLAWED!"

Oh, Lord.

Though You have every right to look at me and called me flawed, You do not. You did something miraculous to make me perfect in Your sight.

You sent Your Son.

And because of Him, I am no longer defined by my imperfections.

Evidently God has an acrostic dictionary, too.  And He defines flawed this way:

F ully
L oved
A nd
W orthwhile…
E ternally
D elightful

(I like His definitions better than mine, by the way…)


Lord, thank You for the lessons I am learning in patience and acceptance. Thank You for teaching me that only You are holy and complete.  Thank You for the gracious gift of Your righteousness, so that even though I am flawed, You see me as perfect.  Thank You that the enemy does not define me.  Thank You that the Story wasn't ruined in Eden – it just took a plot twist.  Thank You that even then, before the beginning of the world, You had a perfect plan – a plan for restoration.  Thank You for the promise of hope – that one day all will be perfect again – for we will live in Your light, and gaze on Your face.


"For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." (Ephesians 2:10)


How do you think God looks at you?


BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

LIZARD HIDE-N-SEEK

Yes, it's what it sounds like.

Makes for a good story, though.

Wanna hear it?

It started off innocently enough.  "The Hub" was outside working in the backyard, and I thought I'd go keep him company.

Things were fine when I was outside.  It was when I decided to come back in the house that the shenanigans started.

We have a door from the backyard that enters into our main room.  And in the mountains, there's no "demilitarized zone" between yard and house – no safe patio break.  It goes from outside yard (mountain wildness) right into house (domesticated abode).

As soon as I opened the door, I noticed a tiny little lizard run over the door jamb – right into the main room of our house.

OK, yes, I did say tiny – he was only about 2 inches long.  So, he didn't really warrant an *eek* from me.  (A totally different scenario than the time I chased a HUGE foot-long lizard out of my house down the hill…)

So, I wasn't scared of Tiny Mr. Lizard.  Just more panicky about how we were going to get him back outside.  We, of course, meaning "The Hub".

My big brave Reptile Hunter walked into the house to give chase.  I stayed outside and looked at the safari through a window.  Man, that little guy could move!

"The Hub" gave a valiant effort trying to trap him.  He scooted away fast, but then promptly reversed direction when cornered.  I saw "The Hub" chase him into the corner…

Oh no, I thought…

I came in and "The Hub" said to me, "I don't know where he went."

I did.

"Uh, hon, I think he went down through the heat register into the heat duct."

Yeah.

"Well, he'll probably come out later."

That was the Great Herpetologist's assessment of the situation (as he went back outside).  It wasn't good enough for me.

So, I waited a minute or two, then went over and looked at the register. There, peeking back at me from inside the grate, were two tiny little beady eyes.  I ran outside again to get "The Hub"…

"I see him," I said.  "He's in the register."

Of course, just as we came back inside, the little guy was poking his head out of the register, preparing to make a hasty exit.  And, of course, when he saw us, he ran back into the duct.  This time, I couldn't see him.

Oh, but I could hear him.

Scratchy, scratchy.

We took the register off the duct, and Tiny Mr. Lizard was nowhere to be seen.

"The Hub" wasn't particularly worried.

I conjured up several dire outcomes:

The tiny lizard would grow up into a big lizard and crawl over me in my sleep some night.

The tiny lizard would grow up into a big lizard and chew through the brand-new ducting.

The tiny lizard would NOT grow up into a big lizard because he would die in the brand-new ducting.

The tiny lizard would NOT grow up into a big lizard because we would fry him when we turned on the heating next time.  (Does fried lizard smell anything like frogs' legs???)

Sigh.

"The Hub" figured that he was too small to climb out by himself – the ducting was too slippery.  So he put a towel down the *chute* in case the little guy needed something to grab on to.

We waited…no show.

Then I had the brilliant idea to turn the fan on.  Maybe we could "blow" him out, I reasoned.

So, we turned on the fan and waited.

"The Hub" went back outside.  I waited some more, and then went over to check the towel.  Nope, didn't see him.  But then…

AHA!

Almost completely camouflaged in the rug was Tiny Mr. Lizard clinging to the side of the opening in the floor.

I rushed back outside (yet again) to get the Reptile Wrangler.  This time he gently poked the little guy with a stick, and kindly prodded him out into the open.  The lizard was cold because of the air from the fan, so he moved very slowly.

"The Hub" successfully caught the tiny little booger.  I have to admit, up close and personal he was really cute.

We re-released him into the wild, where I'm sure he'll grow up into a big lizard.  Maybe he'll come back and say "Hi" someday.

You gotta know there's a lesson in this, don't you?

I pondered later how much effort we had put into chasing down one tiny little lizard.  We did an exhaustive search, capture, and re-locate mission. Why?  Well, because we knew that though he was very, very small, Mr. Tiny Lizard could potentially cause some big problems.

Isn't it like that with sin?

Especially those tiny sins, that don't seem very threatening.  

Little doubts.

Small white lies.

A tidbit of gossip.

Harmless flirtations.

You know what I'm talking about…

We just don't think they're that big a deal.  We figure that they'll work themselves out sooner or later.  No harm, no foul.  So often, we don't even bother chasing them down.

But small sins can eventually cause some big problems.

Tiny lizards are pests – potential home-wreckers.

Tiny sins are potential heart-wreckers.  They can wreak havoc on our spiritual ducting.

So we do well to hunt them down and capture them and re-locate them outside!


Do you have any *tiny sin* that needs to be hunted down and removed from your life?


BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

"FAN THE FLAME" FRIDAY - Inferior

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 phrase, a sentence or a question...just a little something to "fan the flame" of your creativity!


Today's word: inferior

What does the word inferior mean to you?

What is the difference between feeling inferior and being humble?

How does/can God change our perspective on being inferior?


Let me know what you think!!


"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!"

SATURDAY STROLL - New Day Coming!

Welcome to "SATURDAY STROLL!"

In these posts I will be interacting with Scripture – making it a conversational walk of faith.

Sometimes we'll be talking with Jesus, sometimes God will be talking with us.

There might even be *guest appearances* by some of our beloved characters from the Bible!

So put on your walking shoes – you know we can all use the exercise!

THERE'S A NEW DAY COMING!

What if God ran for president, and based His campaign on these promises?!

On that day I will make a covenant.

I will remove all weapons of war from the land, all swords and bows, so you can live unafraid in peace and safety.

I will show you righteousness and justice, unfailing love and compassion.

I will be faithful to you and make you mine, and you will finally know me as the LORD.

I will say, "Now you are my people."

And you will reply, "You are our God!"

I know I'd vote for HIM!

(Selections from Hosea 2)

What are the promises of God that give you hope for the future?

BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

PONDERING THE IMPONDERABLES

Sometimes I like to get my *think* on.

I like to think about the stuff that I can't understand – the things that literally boggle my mind.

The other night a friend and I went out to coffee. We talked about life – but we always seem to end up talking about important spiritual stuff, too. Last week we yakked about the concept of God's omnipresence.

Yeah – heavy duty.

I'm not sure what they put in those *grande frappucinos* – but it sure spurs us on to a "latte" deep conversation. (Groan...)

Omnipresence is a mind-boggler, for sure. So is the eternal existence of God – no beginning, no end. I used to lose sleep thinking about the concept of forever, too.

But our discussion led me to think about three other things that I ponder from time to time.

Ready for some science??

First of all is the existence of what scientists call "junk DNA."

DNA is the *stuff* that we're made of – the unique and individual "signature" of every cell in our bodies.

But, scientists only understand the function of about 2-5% of our total DNA:

"Presently, only the function of a few percent of the DNA is known, the rest has been believed to be "junk". The most exhaustive knowledge is about the genes responsible for the bodily structures, the structural genes, which are the simplest part of the system. But the knowledge about the most important part of this system, the regulator genes, is incomplete. The genetic code language of these genes is only partially known.

More than 98 percent of all DNA, was called "Junk DNA" by molecular biologists, because they were unable to ascribe any function to it."

So, I ponder.

Of course I have NO idea what the purpose of this DNA is – but I wonder. Could it be that something actually happened to our biological makeup after The Fall? We know all about the spiritual ramifications – but what if something happened to our bodies, too?

And someday when we are raised into incorruptible bodies – will this "junk DNA" have something to do with the process?

I don't know, but I wonder.

Hmmm.

Another thing I wonder about is gravity.

A force that no one can deny exists – but no one really understands at all.

"But there are questions for which even Einstein had no answers.

For example, if gravity is a force that causes all matter to be attracted to all other matter, why are atoms mostly empty space inside? (There is really hardly any actual matter in an atom!) How are the forces that hold atoms together different from gravity? Is it possible that all the forces we see at work in nature are really different sides of the same basic force or structure?

We don't really know. We can define what it is as a field of influence, because we know how it operates in the universe. And some scientists think that it is made up of particles called gravitons which travel at the speed of light. However, if we are to be honest, we do not know what gravity "is" in any fundamental way - we only know how it behaves."

Whenever I see something that scientists can't explain, I think of God. Is gravity in some way the actual hand of God holding everything together?

I don't know, but I wonder.

Hmmm.

And then, the thing that really blows my mind is something else recently discovered.

We all know from our rather rudimentary understanding that all things are made up of molecules, and their smaller counterparts, atoms. But atoms are made up of even smaller stuff, and science has been discovering even smaller (and weirder) stuff like particles, strings, and quarks.

Do not ask me to explain – just trust me that it's weird – even to the people who DO understand that stuff!

But even the scientists have been puzzled by the discovery of dark matter in the universe – and its even stranger partner, dark energy.

"But recently some experts have been wondering out loud if it is time to rewrite Einstein's version of the law as it applies to the other end of the length scale, to very long distances. The motivation comes from the predominance of what is sometimes called ''the dark sector'' in the universe.

According to what has recently become a highly celebrated ''standard model,'' ordinary atoms make up only 5 percent of the ''stuff'' of the cosmos. Some kind of mysterious dark matter, perhaps consisting of elementary particles left over from the Big Bang, makes up 25 percent, while the rest -- a whopping 70 percent -- consists of something even more mysterious, known as ''dark energy.''

Obviously a theory that leaves 95 percent of the universe unexplained is less than a complete triumph.

Neither dark energy nor dark matter has been observed or detected directly. Each has been inferred from its gravitational effects on the tiny fraction of stuff we can see. As a result, some scientists have suggested that what astronomers have discovered in the last 20 years is their own ignorance of gravity.

In particular, the discovery, five years ago, that the expansion of the universe is apparently accelerating, under the influence of that dark energy, has occasioned a re-evaluation of the old certainties."

Is our great and awesome God the *energy* that explains it all? I think He is – but do I understand how? NOPE!

I don't know, but I wonder.

Hmmm.

God has created a world and a universe that can be discovered and studied and understood…to a point. God does allow us a peek into the mysteries of creation…to a point.

But there will always be something "unknowable" about our God. That's what makes Him God.

What I love about Him – (among the other million things I love) – is that He humbly chooses to reveal Himself to us.

I find it incredibly awesome that God chose to inhabit DNA, to be subject to the force of gravity on earth, to become atoms and molecules in observable matter…

God chose to be just like us, in order to save us.

Amazing.

Last night my friend and I didn't come up with an explanation for the concept of omnipresence – (shocking, huh?!). Nor do I understand a thing about junk DNA, or gravity, or dark matter and dark energy.

But I do understand what Jesus was all about – Jesus was God choosing to reveal Himself.

So, for all the things I "get" about God – and all the things I don't understand – I am grateful that He cares enough about me to show me enough to believe in Him, to trust in Him, and to live with the hope that someday I will see Him face to face.

I love His mystery, I love His revelation.

And I will spend the rest of eternity learning to know Him better and better.

What glory!

A PRAYER ABOUT MYSTERY

When I contemplate the mysteries of God

Almighty God,

If your nature and knowledge were not beyond human understanding, you would cease to be God. My human heart longs to know you and understand all your ways. But the truth is, I can't ever claim to fully understand you. If I did, I would be making myself equal to you in my own mind.

God, your mysteries are opportunities for faith. If I knew everything about you or your plans for my life, I wouldn't need faith. You have given me everything I need to know to believe in you and obey you.

As I contemplate your mysterious nature, please remind me of all that you HAVE chosen to reveal about who you are. You will not hold me responsible for what I don't know about you, only for what I do know - and I know that following you is a life-long adventure of discovery.

(From "365 Pocket Prayers" by Ronald A. Beers, c. 2010, Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.)

"Truly, O God of Israel, our Savior, you work in mysterious ways." Isaiah 45:15

What are the mysteries about God that you ponder?

Linked today with Joan at SHARING HIS BEAUTY

BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

"FAN THE FLAME" FRIDAY - Fair

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 phrase, a sentence or a question...just a little something to "fan the flame" of your creativity!

Today's word: fair

What does it mean to be fair?

Is there a difference between being fair and being just?

How do you reconcile God's perfect justice with things that don't seem fair?

Let me know what you think!!

"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!"

BIBLE PICK 'EMS - The High Cost of Pride

Today's "Bible Pick 'Ems" lands us in the middle of Ezekiel, a very interesting book.

Ezekiel was one of the Major Prophets in the Old Testament. He had clear and vivid prophecies and visions. However, very little is known about his personal life. He was one of the thousands of young men deported from Judah to Babylon. Up until those tragic days, Ezekiel was being trained for the priesthood.

Like Isaiah, Ezekiel had a shocking encounter with God.

He was never the same!

Whereas Isaiah had warned Judah of the coming storm – Ezekiel spoke in the middle of it. He prophesied in the middle of terrible defeat.

God described Ezekiel as a watchman on the walls of the city, capturing the personal nature of his ministry. Dangerous, responsible, crucial…

A central part of Ezekiel's message was the importance of each person's accountability before God. He taught the exiles that God expected personal worship and obedience from each of them.

Today's verses are a reminder of what happens to the disobedient:

"…you sinned. So I banished you in disgrace from the mountain of God. I expelled you, O mighty guardian…Your heart was filled with pride because of your beauty. Your wisdom was corrupted by your love of splendor. So I threw you to the ground…All who knew you were appalled at your fate. And you have come to a terrible end, and you will exist no more." (Ezekiel 28:16-17, 19)

Some of the phrases in this passage describe the human king of Tyre. Tyre was the powerful capital of Phoenicia. It was a highly prosperous and beautiful city. However, pride caused its ruin.

At times, though, Ezekiel describes the king in terms that could not apply to a mere human. Therefore, he may have been condemning not only the king of Tyre, but Satan, who had tempted and motivated this king to sin.

And we all know that pride caused his ruin.

I take two messages out of this passage.

First of all, there will be an end to prideful ways,and haughty people. There will be an end to Satan's rule. The long fall from Heaven is only the first judgment of God against our enemy. He has a final judgment day ahead of him. And after that day, he "will exist no more." I take comfort in that fact.

God cares about justice. Wickedness will not win out in the end.

The second message I take out of this passage is a warning. God exacts punishment against those who proudly set themselves up. He will not tolerate those who do not yield to His Sovereignty. He demands fearful worship, and a heart yielded to His purposes. Pride will cause ruin.

"Pride goes before destruction, and haughtiness before a fall." (Proverbs 16:18)

Proud people are rarely aware of their weaknesses. They think they are above the frailties that plague others. However, in this state of mind, they are easily tempted – they are easily tripped up.

Proud people seldom realize that pride is their problem.

So, it's time to take inventory. It's time to let Ezekiel speak to us.

Are we proud of our *beauty* – our accomplishments, our success? Do we love splendor and money more than God? Have we sacrificed our wisdom in favor of wealth?

Listen to the warning – return to true worship.

Avoid the long fall from grace.

"I will not endure conceit and pride. I will search for faithful people to be my companions."(Psalm 101:5-6)

Oh Lord, count me among the faithful…count me among the humble.

It's time to do some personal accounting - are you *overdrawn* in the pride column?

Linked today with Charlotte at SPIRITUAL SUNDAYS

BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

QUAINT WORDS

Welcome to "Quaint Words!"

This post will contain thoughts from an old book that I found in my travels. I love browsing at antique stores, flea markets, and garage sales - (not to mention bookstores!)

I love the rhythm and sound of the older English language, and am blessed by other believers who have gone before me!

"It is good to understand that Christ's service never did secure a man from all the ills that flesh is heir to, and never will. If you are a believer, you must reckon on having your share of sickness and pain, of sorrow and tears, of losses and crosses, of deaths and bereavements, of partings and separations, of vexations and disappointments, so long as you are in the body.

Christ never undertakes that you shall get to heaven without these.

He has undertaken that all who come to Him shall have all things pertaining to life and godliness; but He has never undertaken that He will make them prosperous, or rich, or healthy, and that death and sorrow shall never come to their family...

If you desire to serve Christ...I entreat you to take the Lord on His own terms. Make up your mind to meet with your share of crosses and sorrows, and then you will not be surprised.

...leave to the Lord Jesus to sanctify you in His own way. Rest satisfied that He never makes any mistakes. Be sure that He does all things well.

The winds may howl around you, and waters swell. But fear not, 'He is leading you by the right way, that He may bring you to a city of habitation' (Ps. 107:7)."

(From "Holiness" by J. C. Ryle, c. 1816-1900)

(A listing of books and authors, and also dates of individual postings from those books, will be found on my "QUAINT WORDS" page)

BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

BIBLE PICK 'EMS - Reputation On the Line

Reputation.

It's an important thing.

The dictionary defines the word this way:

REPUTATION:

1. (a): overall quality or character as seen or judged by people in general

(b): recognition by other people of some characteristic or ability

2. a place in public esteem or regard; good name

Have you ever been in a position where people spread rumors about you?

Have you ever had your reputation doubted, attacked, soiled?

A long time ago, I did something that was out of character for me, and it affected my reputation.

I was a senior in high school – (I told you it was a long time ago!) At the time, I was considering a career as a teacher. So, my good friend and I enrolled in a Teacher Observation class. Once a week, we were allowed to leave campus to visit a local elementary classroom.

It was a pretty big deal – for one thing, my high school was a closed campus. That meant that we weren't allowed to leave school grounds until our day was done. No open lunch – no venturing off campus if you happened to have a gap in your schedule.

So, this was a real privilege to be able to leave for a class.

However, after a couple of months, my friend convinced me that we could just tell our teachers that we had an "assembly" at school, and we wouldn't be coming to the classroom that day. Then, we'd go eat and have some fun.

After awhile, my mentor teacher caught on – (I suppose he questioned two or three assemblies a month, always on the same day of the week) – and he reported us.

BUSTED.

Our supervisor called us into her office and read us the riot act.

The worst thing was all the accusations she threw at me about my character. You see, I was a VERY. GOOD. GIRL. A solid citizen, an honor student, a pretty compliant and rule-following person.

And she accused me, among other things, of being a slacker, a cheater, a liar.

It hurt.

I flashed back on this incident when I read today's "Bible Pick 'Ems." It's found in the book of Daniel.

First, a little background information.

It is the first year of the reign of Darius the Mede – (the son of Ahasuerus) – who had become the king of the Babylonian Empire. During this first year, Daniel learned that Jerusalem must lie desolate for 70 years.

I love how Daniel says it, in his very own words:

"…I, Daniel, learned from reading the word of the LORD, as revealed to Jeremiah the prophet, that Jerusalem must lie desolate for seventy years. So I turned to the Lord God and pleaded with him in prayer and fasting…I prayed to the LORD my God and confessed…"

You know, you gotta love Daniel.

Here he is, trapped in exile, and yet he is faithful to his God, and to the reading of His Word. And, not only does he read the Word, he is responsive and obedient to it – he does NOT stop at reading – he acts in faith.

His prayer is beautiful.

But it's this particular passage that has me pondering:

"'Listen as I plead. For your own sake, Lord, smile again on your desolate sanctuary. O my God, lean down and listen to me. Open your eyes and see our despair. See how your city – the city that bears your name – lies in ruins. We make this plea, not because we deserve help, but because of your mercy. O Lord, hear. O Lord, forgive. O Lord, listen and act! For your own sake, do not delay, O my God, for your people and your city bear your name.'"

(Daniel 9:17-19)

And here's what I'm pondering.

It's the way that Daniel prays. He prays for himself and his people, yes. But it's not what he prays for that is interesting to me – it's how he prays for it.

He calls on God's reputation.

Do you see it?!

Phrases –

For YOUR own sake, Lord, smile again…

See how YOUR city – the city that bears YOUR name…

We make this plea…because of YOUR mercy…

For YOUR own sake, do not delay…

For YOUR people and YOUR city bear YOUR name…

I've read passages like this before in the Bible. Where someone calls upon God's own reputation to move Him to act. I've often wondered about this.

Is it manipulative?

Is it self-serving?

Is it wrong?

It doesn't seem to be. At least if it's done from the proper heart-position. So, what am I missing?

I try to think of a human corollary. For instance, let's say hypothetically my son says something to me like this:

"Hey Mom, you might not want to wear your sweatpants outfit to pick me up, for your own sake."

Is he thinking about me? Or about HIS reputation – and the possible embarrassment from a sweatpants-wearing mom? Or is it somehow a combination of both?

I'm not sure I have the answers on this one, but I'm pondering.

God seems to welcome these kinds of prayers. Sometimes He even honors them.

Why?

I think it's that heart-position thing.

Daniel started his prayer with confession and repentance. He started with a humble heart, and a spirit willing to be obedient. He called on God's reputation, because he held God in such HIGH esteem. He KNEW God – and He didn't want God's reputation to be soiled because of His faulty and flawed people.

That makes sense to me.

Maybe if I begin to align my heart more truly with the God that I so highly admire and esteem – the LORD who inspires awe and reverent fear in me – then I can also ask for answered prayers for the sake of HIS honor – (of course, always yielding to His Sovereign will).

Lord, we bear Your name. Sometimes we don't wear it very well. But, in spite of all our failings, make us better ambassadors for Christ.

And for the sake of YOUR reputation, please show us mercy.

"I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, FOR MY OWN SAKE, and remembers your sins no more." (Isaiah 43:25, NIV)

What do you think about this? What does it mean to call on God's reputation in prayer?

Linked today with Charlotte at SPIRITUAL SUNDAYS and Peggy at SOAKING ON SONDAY!

BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

"FAN THE FLAME" FRIDAY - Motive

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 phrase, a sentence or a question...just a little something to "fan the flame" of your creativity!

Today's word: motive

What does the word motive mean?

How do you think a person's motives affect their behavior?

Can a person do a bad thing with good motives? Can a they do a good thing with bad motives?

What sorts of motives should a follower of Jesus have?

Let me know what you think!!

"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!"