what made these wise guys so wise...

“...and they fell to the ground and worshipped Him.  Then opening their treasures, they presented to Him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.” (Matthew 2:11)

At first glance, it may appear that the only gifts the Magi presented to Jesus were gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  Costly gifts to be sure, yet, there lay hidden beneath the gilded robes of these men another gift.  A gift that was much more precious, much more valuable than the three we are familiar with.  

Considered by the world as wisemen because of their superior knowledge of astronomy and astrology, this is not what made them truly wise.  It was not even their worship of Jesus that made them wise, nor was it the overflowing of gifts to Him out of their worship that made them wise.  What made these wise guys wise was belief in the Word of God.  It was out of this belief that everything else flowed.

“Where is He Who has been born King of the Jews?  For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.” (Matthew 2:2)

Long before their journey to worship had ever begun, as astrologers, they had seen the star in the East, and being familiar with the Scriptures, they believed in and saw fulfillment of prophecy.  It was belief in God’s Word that preceded the purpose of their journey.  Put the two together, belief and the journey based on that belief, and in that they had gained a heart of wisdom.  Knowledge of God’s Word does not become wisdom in our lives until it is acted upon in faith.  A heart of wisdom.  More valuable than gold, frankincense and myrrh.  As they fell to the ground and worshipped Him, it was a heart of wisdom that they were truly presenting to Him.

“So teach us to number our days, that we may present to You a heart of wisdom.”

         Psalm 90:12

To number our days is to have an understanding and respect of the brevity of our time here on planet earth. The psalmist realized that time is a precious gift.  A gift that no one but God Himself can give.  So, he went to the Giver of time to be taught by Him, how to number his days.  How to live wisely in the time apportioned to him.

You and I have also been given, not only the gift of time, but also a gift from the magi.  It’s a principle.  A principle that teaches us that what we believe will ultimately chart the course of our days.  What made these guys so wise is that they had numbered their days, their calendars if you will, with the ink of belief in the Word of God, and then lived out their journey accordingly.   

LORD, in just a few days, I will be turning my calendar page to the very first day of a brand new year.  Each day will be a journey unto itself.  Teach me to number my days, that I may present to You a heart of wisdom.  

Additional Reading:  Proverbs 8:11  Proverbs 16:16   Ecclesiastes 2:26   

                                          Colossians 2:2-3  James 3:17  James 1:5   Proverbs 3:13

feeling a little sketchy...

Journaling and drawing, in one form or other, seems to have been a part of my life since I was a very little girl.  I have no idea what happened to my childhood writings and drawings, 

but I remember a few of them quite well.    

My best friend in grade 3 and I had a way of sharing our ideas through stories and drawings.  On rainy days we would, together, share the same wooden chair and desk in my room where we would have a beautiful blank piece of paper laid out in front of us.  One of my relatives in Scotland had given me one of those ridiculously ginormous pencils for Christmas, and it was with this that we would create the most wonderful tales.  

I would begin by positioning my fingers around the base, as near to the HB lead as I could get without the huge pencil eraser at the top tipping the whole thing over, then I would draw an impressive arc in the middle of the pristine paper, and utter the words, 

"once upon a time, there was a beautiful green hill."  

... and the story had begun!

The pencil would quickly change hands as my friend would then eagerly add her own drawing to the page and utter her own, imaginative words.  The whole entire process usually ended up in a fit of giggles as little stick people emerged with their equally stick-y little dogs, with lollipop heads perched precariously upon almost none existent necks.  

I do remember, however, that although the stories changed with each new sheet of paper, the sun was always predictably huge in the upper right hand corner, while hundreds of blades of grass and flowers were added along the bottom with each exchange of the pencil.  

Last week as I was engaged in a lengthy phone conversation, my hand inadvertently picked up a pencil that was close by and finding a piece of stray paper began to gently move in effortless ease across the blank expanse.  

My hand began a slow dance of straight lines and swirls, of bends and twirls, while I remained oblivious, carrying on in the conversation at hand.

Later on that evening, I returned to my desk to tidy things up for the day.  As I was crumpling up papers to place in the garbage, my eye caught sight of the edge of something different from the others.  

I slid it out from between two sheets and I just stared for a moment.  

It was my mindless doodling.  

Crudely drawn pencil lines, childlike in dimension, simple in its form, 

but there it was... 

my heart was telling me a story.

 It was my heart's happy thought of the promise of Spring, just around the corner.  

The beauty of the garden just waiting for me to come and play, create and enjoy.

The anticipation of the renewal of Life in the midst of winter's chill.

I smiled.

Then I giggled.

A hydrangea blossom.

A watering can.

A hose.

A mouse.

Given enough time, 

I'm sure my hand would have predictably had the sun,

huge in the upper right hand corner,

while hundreds of blades of grass and flowers were added along the bottom of the paper.

"For behold, the winter is past,

The rain is over and gone,

The flowers have appeared in the land;

The time has arrived for singing..."

                                                     Song of Solomon 2:11-12

But He said to them...

"But He said to them, 
"It is I; do not be afraid."

                                                                                     

Many times, the most fearful of situations and circumstances has Jesus written all over it.

How different it would be.

What a difference it would make in our hearts...

in our life...

if we could, in the midst of our fear, have the ears to hear Him say...

"It is I, do not be afraid."

It's not so much the circumstance,

as it is Jesus.

Presenting Himself to us in the midst of it.

Fear has the ability to blind us from seeing Jesus.

Fear distorts our vision.

It closes, not only our eyes to Jesus, but also our hearts and minds to Him as well.

We respond to the fear with the very thing fear feeds upon the most... our flesh.

Fear gets fat when we operate in the flesh.

It starves when we are walking in the Spirit.

I love the narrative that follows the declaration of

  "It is I; do not be afraid."

It says...

 "So they were willing to receive Him into the boat, 

and immediately

the boat was at the land to which they were going."

Am I, are you, willing to receive Him into the boats that are our particular lives?

Into our hearts?

Not placing our trust in the circumstance, the fear, or our own flesh.

But placing our trust in Him and in His Word to us...

"It is I, do not fear."

This being willing to receive is not just our initial receiving of Him at salvation.

This being willing to receive is an ever present continuous action, 

for every moment of every day,

until we take our final breath here on planet earth.

Yes,

our salvation at that one moment in time has secured our place with Him in heaven.

But it is our daily,

moment by moment willingness to receive Him here and now,

 that ensures the immediacy of our very heart, mind and soul stepping with solidity upon the shores of our promised land...right now!

Right where we are this very minute!

What is this promised land amid the fears and circumstances of life?

It is the land we have been given to reside in,

and live off the bounty of NOW!

The land of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.

It's a land Whose shores can only be reached through the hearing and willing receiving of The Very Word of God...

"It is I, do not be afraid."

Many times, the most fearful of situations and circumstances has Jesus written all over it.

Dare to Get Real Conference

In the early months of 2012 I was asked if I would be available to join seven other speakers at a Women's Conference to be held in November 16-17, 2012.  I was asked to write a "bio" about myself.  As I was writing in my journal that night, I was reminded of all that God has done, not only in my life, but in the lives of all the women that I have been privileged to have been able to share this magnificent walk with.  My "bio" is God's story in, and reflected through, me ... and so I wrote in my journal that night, what was in my heart...

"So often we are encouraged to study our Bible, but have never really be shown how.  I have had the pure joy of watching women, of all ages, develop an intimacy with God that comes through the study and knowing of His Word.  Know His Word and you come to know Him.  A woman who knows her God will not fall for a lie, because she has risen with the Truth.  A woman who knows her God stands firm, no matter the circumstance or trial, she displays great strength and takes action.  Instead of looking outside ourselves for these kind of women, let's purpose in our hearts before God that we, ourselves, will go and be that woman amid this generation, knowing our God and living accordingly!  One by one, together, we will be a beautiful "planting of the LORD that He may be glorified."  (Isaiah 61:3)

It's not about me... it's all about Him.
The above "bio" was submitted.

The Women's Conference is on.  

I'm looking forward to seeing you there!

The Dare To Get Real Conference Website link... http://www.getrealconference2012.com/ 

Everything you need to know can be found there, 
Sessions, Speakers, Video, Facebook Page, Registration... 

Lost and ... Found!

Yesterday morning I awoke to the drumming of pouring rain.

I love the sound.

 I had planned on doing some gardening and I wasn't about to change my plans.

So, in the still early hours of morning I headed outside.

The Lavender needed trimming back.

So with cutters in hand I began to take away the spent blooms.

As the old was cut away to make way for the New I saw something sparkling.

As I bent even farther down to take a closer look I was delighted to see that hidden amid all the foliage were my long lost reading glasses.
I usually hang them off the front of my top.
They must have fallen off when I leaned over to smell the gorgeous fragrance of the blooms!

And so began my meditation for the day.

One of my favourite things to do is to take moments like this,

 and to see them with a Biblical perspective.

God's perspective,
 on the subject of lost and found.

Finding my reading glasses had me meditating upon Luke 15 most of the day.

In this passage Jesus tells the parable of the lost sheep,
the lost coin,
 the lost son.

We know him as the prodigal.

Lost sheep need a shepherd.

Lost coins have value.

Lost sons are in need of fellowship with their Father.

You cannot read through these parables without noticing how many times the words "joy", "rejoice" and "celebrate" are mentioned.

And always by the One Who has found,

that which is lost.

v6. "Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!"

v. "Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin which I had lost!"

v.32 ..."we had to celebrate and rejoice, for this brother of yours was dead and has begun to live, and was lost and has been found."

Finding my reading glasses amid the spent blooms,

put a song in my heart.

One of thanksgiving.

One of pure wonder.

Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me... 

I once was lost, but now am found, 

was blind, but now I see!

                                                                     John Newton (1725-1807)

Fighting the Good Fight!

There is a vast difference between fighting over something and fighting for something.  The good fight, fights for the good thing... not over it.  To walk in freedom is worth fighting for.  To forgive and love without constraint is worth fighting for.  To take action in the purposes and will of God, without thought for any person's reaction or responses, only set on pleasing God, and glorifying Him... this is walking in true freedom... true Peace!  It's worth fighting for!

The Art of Aging Gracefully...

Growing old gracefully... it's an art!
There are so many facets to it and it is never static, but always revealing new aspects of itself... challenging the artistry of gracefulness in the midst of it all.

There is a distinct beauty that belongs to youthfulness alone; this kind of beauty is so fleeting... any attempt to try and hold onto that which is destined to depart is not only futile but desperately sad and pathetic as well.

I admire those who have and are aging gracefully.  Vitality of spirit is an inward aspect of youthfulness that need never depart, it is immensely attractive and sparkles with Life and Purpose.  The most amazing thing about vitality of spirit is that although it is an inward work, it is too powerful to be so contained and it works its way outward, giving a radiance to the countenance and a vibrancy to our whole demeanour.  I know that for this to be true of me, this vitality of spirit must come from God, as His Life's Purpose fills and sustains me, and as I look to Him and am radiant.

This January I celebrated, yet another, 50something birthday... however, it was the day before that I really felt the impact of this.  I've never yet had an age that I didn't welcome eagerly... only this time the number just seemed, daunting.  There is no such thing as going back or holding fast at this point - from here on out it's "hold your head up high and walk on!"

I have such a sense of "laying aside every encumbrance".  Of casting off those things that hinder and entangle, that no longer serve nor reflect the woman that I am today.  Of embracing more and more the good work God has begun in me and will be faithful to complete.  Well over 50 years ago, it pleased God to hear me take my first physical breath and utter my first physical cry.  Twenty-nine years later it pleased God to reveal His Son in me and to hear me take my first spiritual breath of Life and utter my first spiritual cry of "my Lord and my God!"  These magnificent colours and hues have been painted onto the canvas of my life, and all the days and moments that reflect the dark and the Light have also been placed there by the same Hand.  While the canvas of my life may not yet reveal the fulness of the completed work, the Artist is purposeful in all the colours that He places and allows to make up the whole.  Some of the darker shadows and hues I myself would have never chosen, yet The  Promise of The Artist stands... 

 "... God causes ALL THINGS to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose."

Romans 8:28

It saddens me that we all too often stop here and forget to go on and find out what The Purpose of God is, because it is in the following verse that we find purpose in even the harsher strokes of The Artist upon the canvas of our lives...

"For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son..."

Romans 8:29

The colours painted onto the canvas of our lives all contribute to one and only one purpose... that the completed work will be us, perfectly conformed into the image of The Artist Himself!

Indeed, growing old gracefully is an art!  Full of Colour and Beauty, Vibrancy and Vitality - every part of it, including age itself, comes from the heart and hand of God.  He Who has begun a good work in me will be faithful to complete it, and in the process, continually reveal to me new aspects of His Grace.

Growing old Gracefully... this is my destiny in Christ.

I sought the LORD, and He answered me,

And delivered me from all my fears,

(I) looked to Him and (was) radiant...

                                            Psalm 34: 4-5

Ever The Same...

Writing, in some form or other, has always been a part of my life.  I enjoy the unfolding of thoughts and the gentle rhythm of my hand as it guides my pencil across the paper.  My journal is full of drawings, especially in the summer as most of my journaling is done outside.  I've drawn flowers and birds, leaves, ladybugs and bees, wooden chairs and scenery.  

My journal is also full of little things that have meaning to me... little flowers that my granddaughter gave me while we were spending time together in the garden... a bracelet that I made for her from the twigs that fell from the Honey Locust Tree, with a flower tucked into it's strands.

Many of the simple things of Life that bring me pleasure have also found their way, through words, onto the pages of my journal, pain and heartache have also found their expression many times through words written on its pages. Recently, something was said to me that was particularly hurtful, it doesn't really matter what it was, what is important is that I had a choice as to whether I was going to allow the words to find a place to settle within me or not.  After spending time in God's Word... I chose not. 

In Psalm 51:6 God tells us that he desires TRUTH in the innermost being and that in those hidden places within us he will make us know wisdom.  What had been bitterly spoken to me had been a lie and it was to find no resting place within me... and God gave me the wisdom to see it.  Afterwards I wrote...

"I know who I am, but much more importantly I know Who God is.   

God never changes.  This is a glorious truth and an aspect of Who He is.  He is always the same.  The circumstances of our lives and the ebb and flow of the ages change Him not; yet daily, I am in constant need of remembering who I am, and more importantly, who I am in Christ.  My moods change, my circumstances change - those that I have been placed in the midst of... their moods change, their circumstances change, which have the potential of changing my mood and circumstances too... and it seems to increase in frequency as I get older!  Who I am cannot be accurately determined when I am alone and unencumbered.  Who I am is better understood in the midst of the complexities in all that it means to live out daily life here on planet earth... not isolated from, but right smack dab in the community of humanity... in the midst of the pressures and pleasures, restrictions and freedoms, sorrows and joys, doubts and insecurities, fears and comforts of living this thing out.

By knowing my God I realize my Anchor... The One Who holds me fast in the up and down waves of life.  He never changes, He is always the same... my Healer, my Protector, Comforter, Counsellor, Mighty God, Prince of Peace.  He is my Light and my Salvation, He is my Daily Bread and Living Water; He is unchanging, yet continues to change me... Lord, I am a grateful child."

I know who I am, but much more importantly I know Who God is.

with love,