Sit

While sitting in the dentist office waiting room,

a lady, who was reading a fairly thick hardback novel,

was summoned by the receptionist for her appointment.

She replaced her bookmark,

arose from her chair

and slowly made her way across the room.

She chuckled as she informed the nurse,

“I have twenty pages left in my book,

and the only time I’ve ever read it

is when I have been here in this room.”

Sitting… Waiting…

we all spend a lot of time doing it.

Some people have a plan

conjuring creative activities to occupy

this unavoidable dead time.

They crochet or read.

They surf the internet,

work a crossword puzzle

or catch up on paperwork.

They listen to their ipod,

make phone calls

or chat with the co-waiting strangers they meet.

Others just sit.

It seems they have no plan,

no motivation,

no organization,

no active brain cells,

no desire.

That may be so, but

appearances can be deceptive.

Perhaps the one who is sitting still

is praying,

is planning,

is memorizing,

is mourning,

is composing,

is listening…

Is sitting still socially unacceptable?

Is being quiet a lost art?

Is the din of contemplation too difficult?

A quietness focused on Jesus

offers access to

peace beyond understanding,

contentment,

patience…

and opportunity for the Holy Spirit

to be heard.

~ae

“He caused the storm to be still,

so that the waves of the sea were hushed. 

Then they were glad because they were quiet,

so He guided them to their desired haven. 

Let them give thanks to the Lord for His lovingkindness,

and for His wonders to the sons of men!”

~Psalm 107:29-31

“He leads me beside quiet waters,

He restores my soul…”

~Psalm 23:2

“…the imperishable quality

of a gentle and quiet spirit,

which is precious in the sight of God.” 

~I Peter 3:4

“Be still

and know that I am God.”

~Psalm 46:10

The Question Game

Have you ever played the Question Game?

There is one simple rule:

In a conversation format,

take turns asking questions.

That’s it.

Oh, there is one catch;

you may only ask questions.

No statements or exclamations are allowed.

Try it ~ It’s fun!

… and a bit more challenging than it sounds.

It serves as a good reminder...
How much do you know

about the people you meet?

Do you ask them questions?

…or do you mostly 

tell them about yourself?

“So David inquired of the Lord, 

saying, ‘Shall I go…?’”  

~I Samuel 23:2

Double-Check

Today, I popped into the store

to buy a few items.

When the cashier handed me my change,

I counted it.

I always do because…

well… because Dad said so.

He told me that this is a good habit to establish;

a simple double-check.

Listening to a song on the radio,

taking notes during a sermon,

reading a recommended book…

Are they in keeping

with God’s Word?

I should always do a simple double-check

because…

well… because the Father said so.

~ae

The Bereans… “were more noble-minded

than those in Thessalonica,

for they received the word with great eagerness,

examining the Scriptures daily

to see whether these things were so.”

~Acts 17:11

Epic

When you think of the word “epic”,

what comes to mind;

the Iliad and the Odyssey?

…the Midnight Ride of Paul Revere?

…Ben Hur?

As a word commonly inserted

into day-to-day conversations,

you may associate the word “epic”

with things like

a hot car,

an amazing ski jump,

an entertaining face plant,

a radical hair style,

or a popular movie.

Epic: 

classic

heroic

notable

inspiring

ambitious

impressive

remarkable

extraordinary

larger-than-life

Consider the following applications…

~ae

“’I did not even consider myself worthy to come to You,

but just say the word,

and my servant will be healed.

For I also am a man placed under authority…’

… Now when Jesus heard this,

He marveled at him,

and turned and said to the crowd that was following Him,

‘I say to you, not even in Israel

have I found such (epic) faith.” 

~Luke 7:8,9

“You gave Me no kiss;

but she, since the time I came in,

has not ceased to kiss My feet.

You did not anoint My head with oil,

but she anointed My feet with perfume.

For this reason I say to you, her sins,

which are many, have been forgiven,

for she (offered an epic love)…”

~Luke 7:45-47

“Whoever receives this child in My name

receives Me,

and whoever receives Me

receives Him who sent Me;

for the one who is least among all of you,

this is the (epic) one.”

~Luke 9:48

“Martha, Martha, you are worried

and bothered about so many things;

but only one thing is necessary,

for Mary has chosen the (epic) part,

which shall not be taken away from her.”

~Luke 10:41,42

Disappointment

I have experienced a disappointment.

I am sad.

Please join me as I process through my thoughts and emotions.

Thank you.

~ae

To point is to make a direction known

with a physical gesture,

usually with the pointing finger.

To appoint is to officially designate someone

to a position or task.

An appointment is a planned time,

a scheduled engagement

or an assignment to a position.

In contrast,

a disappointment is a failure to meet an expectation or hope of;

the state of emotion of being disappointed;

confirmed as not adequately equipped.

Shouldn’t disappointment simply indicate

that an appointment has been cancelled,

that someone’s position or task has been removed,

or that you put your finger down?

Why is it that to point,

to appoint

and to make an appointment

are usually positive mental exercises,

factual in nature,

almost never stirring or even involving emotion…

Yet when the tables are turned,

when the current ebbs,

when control is relinquished,

emotion suddenly emerges larger than life?

Before the appointment occurs,

there is no thought of giving anything up

because it doesn’t exist.

However, as soon as plans are made,

goals are in place,

action has been taken to move in a direction,

there it is…

a point of focus,

a confirmed value,

a satisfied decision…

an uncertainty made certain

then placed neatly and precisely

into a little mental box for safekeeping.

Unfortunately,

there is no allowance for change

without disrupting or destroying the box.

So, is it okay for me to feel sad

when I find out that none of my older kids

will be coming home for spring break after all? Yes.

Did I cry?  Yes.

Should I allow my emotion to carry me

into frustration?

complaining?

anger?

bitterness?

blaming?

depression?

There are instructions against these attitudes and actions

in the Scriptures.

There is also clear guidance for me

in the face of disappointments…

“But the fruit of the Spirit

is love, joy,

peace

patience,

kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness,

self-control;

against such things there is no law.

Now those who belong to Christ Jesus

have crucified the flesh

with its passions and desires.

If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.”

~Galatians 5:22-25

Today

Open your eyes

every day is a surprise;

analyze

and be wise

to know truth from sweetened lies.

As you pray

may you stay

in the Word and in the Way,

may you not fall away

nor your heart be led astray

in the fray of malevolent sway.

For the vices of sin

digging in

with a grin

will not win

nor will hardening set in

where one has been

forgiven.

Courage multiplies

when we meet each others’ eyes,

Courage is our stay

as it’s offered day by day,

Courage must begin

each today that we are in.

   So be wise

      in the Way;

         be a friend.

~ae

“Take care, brethren,

that there not be in any one of you

an evil, unbelieving heart

that falls away from the living God.

But encourage one another

day after day,

as long as it is still called ‘Today,’

so that none of you will be hardened

by the deceitfulness of sin.”

~Hebrews 3:12,13

Rewards

As I was preparing to leave the parking lot,

I noticed a fairly large dog

trot around the corner of a nearby building at a steady gait,

crossing the street to the gas station.

It was most certain from his distinctive movement,

that he had a purpose,

a desired attraction,

an intended destination.

Sure enough, there she was;

the mail carrier walking back to her mail truck.

Without even the slightest hesitation

at seeing this substantial canine

whose massive frame slowed to stand by her truck with its head lowered,

she reached in to her coat pocket

and threw him a milk bone.


She was not surprised;

in fact, she was expecting him to come,
as she likely does other dogs on her route.


And so it is with faith.

~ae 

“And without faith it is impossible to please Him,

for he who comes to God

must believe that He is

and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.”

~ Hebrews 11:6

“The reward of humility and the fear of the Lord

are riches, honor and life.”

~ Proverbs 22:4