Every November 11th calls to remembrance my parents’ anniversary. Daddy used to tease my mom by saying that “they declared war” [instead of the war ending] on their November 11th wedding day. 🙂 He, of course, was joking. Daddy could do that because they had a good marriage.

I don’t ever remember my parents fighting, nor raising their voices at one another. They remained faithful to each other for sixty four years … an amazing accomplishment in the world in which we live. Though it was more common for their generation to remain married longer than our present one, divorce rates were high enough at that time!

My parents’ witness to me, along with my husband’s parents’ faithfulness to one another for over sixty years, strengthened our foundational concepts of marriage. We are now in our 50th year of matrimony [the celebration of being married], for which I am very grateful! When asked what has enabled us to remain devoted to one another, I give it two replies: “THE GRACE OF GOD!…” and “WORK!” Yes, you have to work at it! Intentionally!…with divorce not being an option as two parties are dedicated to the covenant of marriage.

I celebrate the memory of my parents’ marriage today. It sowed such good seeds into my life. I grieve over those who have suffered at the plight of divorce. God hates it, though He does not hate the divorcee! I understand why. The fall-out is huge ~ even among the most amicably-parting couples and children. Children’s worlds are split right in half! Some recover, with God’s grace; others never do. Others will remain scarred…and possibly pass it on to succeeding generations.

Thank you, Mom and Dad in Heaven, and my in-laws also in Heaven, for working through any differences and solidifying your vows to one another! You were filled with grace!

What we must declare war on is the ploys of the enemy who seeks to kill, steal and destroy homes, the foundation our our society.

“What God has joined together, let no man put asunder!” [Mark 10:9]

Many years ago, a neighbor, with whom I was slightly acquainted, called one day ranting on the phone. Holy Spirit promptly said, “Just listen; don’t react.” The more she talked, the more I realized her state of being.  The grace of God stirred in me tender understanding in spite of her erratic behavior.

Our three oldest children standing beside me ~ trying to listen in to her screams ~ were bewildered about my neighbor’s accusations. Their first thoughts were that they had done something wrong. Nodding gently to them, I wiped their tears and reassured them that they had not erred.

She insisted that my children and all other neighborhood children were not allowed in her yard to play with her son. It made her very nervous, she said. Her fears were that her son might get hurt in the midst of play. I assured her that I respected her wishes, and that I would make certain that my children did not play in her yard.

Sadly, this left her son standing at their property edge nearly the whole summer watching all of the children play outside together. Neighborhood children saw the pain of isolation on her son’s face as he suffered at his mother’s demands. Our children prayed for him throughout the summer months, asking the Lord to release him from the captivity of his mother’s unfounded fears.

One August day, after her son suffered so much sadness, she relented and asked that the children be able to return to her yard to play. How delighted we were for her son. Isolation had been a cruel punishment ~ not at all deserved by this young boy.

Wounded people so often wound others. Our hearts ached for the pain and mental confusion this mother endured. Our prayers, however, did bring release to her … and our children grew in mercy and understanding.

“God’s servant must not be argumentative, but a gentle listener and a teacher who keeps cool, working firmly but patiently with those who refuse to obey. You never know how or when God might sober them up with a change of heart and a turning to the truth, enabling them to escape the devil’s trap, where they are caught and held captive, forced to run his errands.” [2 Timothy 2:25-26 The Message]

Servanthood is ageless; we never outgrow its call. Paul wrote: “Those of us who are strong and able in the faith need to step in and lend a hand to those who falter, and not just do what is most convenient for us. Strength is for service, not status. Each one of us needs to look after the good of the people around us, asking ourselves, ‘How can I help?'” [Romans 15:1-2 The Message]

A day well begun is a day we ask that question: Lord, what does my service to others look like today? Whether we’re giving time to listen, giving emotional support, or serving in some way with our hands, we can lessen the load of another who is faltering, losing strength or momentum, in some way.

Prayer support has been the greatest gift anyone could ever lend to me and my family. Not a day goes by that I don’t thank the Lord for those who rally around us ~ who love us unconditionally ~ and who ask the simple question: “How can I help?”

We need one another. That will not change as long as we live on this earth. Father God intended it to be this way. Sensitivity to another’s needs are the rich connectors that bond us together in this amazing Body of Christ. Will it be convenient? Most of the time it will not. Servanthood calls for selflessness…the dying of introspection, entitlement, or self-absorption that could otherwise rule our souls.

In servanthood, we offer our time, our hearts, our hands, and sometimes our means to make the way easier for the faltering one[s]. Those who keep their lives selfishly to themselves lose out; those who give away their lives for the sake of another, find its richness.

There’s the old tale of the man who fell down the stairs, got up, brushed himself off, and said, “I’m glad THAT’S over!” In other words, he believed fate determined his accident. The inevitable happened. So, why have hope? The dice were rolled; chances were that something was going to happen to him. And it did. Some would call it a “crap shoot…” or, the cleaner version would be: a risk, or a gamble.

Faith, on the other hand, is our response to God’s loving invitation to covenant with Him in relationship. By doing so, hope enters and sets our focus on His purpose for our lives. Hope assures us that all things work together for good, “for those who are called according to His purpose.” [Romans 8:28] This holy alliance strengthens our souls, while He invites: “Let us contend together.” [Isaiah 43:26]

“The people who know their God shall be strong and carry out great exploits.” [Daniel 11:32] A bold and daring feat for the Living God cannot be done without faith that He is the divine Orchestrator and the One who empowers us through hope.

Faith supposes that the thing that we’ve hoped for will happen. Not only that, faith believes that it is legally paid for; and, through prayers of faith, has already manifested in the spiritual realm. “Now faith IS…” [Hebrews 11:1a] We have the right to ask for it because God’s Word is forever true and amen! Therefore, confidence is set, whether or not I have yet to see physical evidence.

A belief system based on fate eradicates the reliance on purpose and divine intent. Faith rests solely upon God’s ultimate unfolding of our destiny.

Thank God it’s NOT over!

Cargo often shows up at the door of my soul that was sent to the wrong address. This cargo wears me out, slumps my shoulders, and weighs down my soul. It certainly halts my progress. So why accept it?

I’ve noticed that I might even hold on to some of this cargo before sending it on to the One who can handle it. I already know it’s been sent to the wrong address; yet I find myself delaying, looking it over, re-reading the label, and wondering if I am to keep it. While I’m holding on to it, I find myself confused, dizzy, worrying, fussing, fuming ~ all so needlessly ~ because I accepted cargo unintended for me.

“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to Me. Get away with Me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest.” [Matthew 11:28 Message]

Unfit for my soul, cargo-bearing wears me out. My dock gets over-laden; and I, as the dock hand, need to ship out that which has collected at the wrong port. I draw near to the One to whom the cargo is intended ~ and I listen to His shipping instructions. He stills my soul. The shipping label becomes clear to my mind. I stamp “Heavenward!” across the cargo containers!!! Then I sit down to satisfy my soul with the ‘divine energy drink’ made just for me: REST.

Lesson learned: read the shipping label!

For a while I resisted text messaging. I didn’t like missing dear faces and no longer hearing voices that made my heart skip a beat. I considered it impersonal and leaving a lot to be desired. When our youngest son was stricken with stage 4 cancer, loving communication became more critical. So I yielded … and found texting to be quite helpful. If he wanted to talk or needed our help, he would simply respond with a brief message…and oftentimes a return call. How I would love to hear that sweet voice one more time.

Psalm 19:14a: “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable…” Words became treasures between us ~ even more so than ever. The pulse rate of the heart was imperative! Moments shared together became golden. They now rest in the memory bank.

While this technology was helping out in many ways, I still needed hugs, I needed to see his endearing face, and I needed to hear his voice, and those of many others I love so dearly. Proverbs 25:1l reads: “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.” In the texting world ~ especially at a time of crisis ~ we trust our words to be ‘fitly spoken’?

I noticed that other relationships that used to be centered on visits or phone calls sadly resorted to ‘texting only.’ Our words are a reflection of what is in our hearts. How sad it is when our expressed love becomes so fragmented that we relate only in limited letters on a screen. This lacks a pulse rate. Is our communication becoming like television’s rapid, brief commercials in the midst of the program of life?

On the other hand, some relationships have remained connected because texting is quick and efficient in the midst of hectic schedules. Where would some relationships be without texting to make even a slim connector ~ a thread that crosses from one spider-webbed side of life to another?

Like others, I’ve questioned what was typed on a text message. Facing two selections: “Is this, or is it not, offensive?” I came to the conclusion that not only can you NOT read a motive in someone’s mind, you have less chance of realizing a heart’s intent on text messages.

Texting is meant only as a supplement to real face-to-face connections and words fitly spoken. Fireside chats, visits over coffee, sit-down dinners, heart-to-heart talks, and several other forms of times together remain what is real communication. That registers the true pulse from the source of the heart.

Jesus said, “Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.” [Matthew 11:29 Message]

His call is for our minds to rest: “Come unto Me, all you who are weary and heavy-laden.” [verse 28] He explains that there’s a rhythm that is unforced ~ the burden remains light; the yoke remains easy. The branch remains attached to the Vine and rests as its milk and honey flow from the Source.

I once road up front in a paramedic’s rescue vehicle when my mother was taken to the hospital. The driver warned me: “Prepare for a bumpy ride; the wheels on this vehicle are square.” I gained full understanding of that concept as he advanced forward. That experience comes to mind when I try to take charge of my own life…traveling on square wheels. Kal-lump…kal-lump…kal-lump! Definitely “heavy and ill-fitting.”

Desiring to learn the “unforced rhythms of grace,” I make my plea: Teach me to lean into Your stride, Lord. I rehearse: Be. Still. And. Know. That. I. Am. God.

As I say that over and over to myself, meditating on what that looks and feels like in relationship with Him, I’m beginning to get it. I wonder ~ does it match the rhythm of His heart beat.? Quietly I listen again: Be. Still. And. Know. That. I. Am. God.

Then I realize…These wheels are round. No bumps. An easy yoke. A light burden. It sounds and feels like peace and rest. My life is recovered, restored. I meditate, I listen, I feel how He does it. No more square wheels, just come unto Him and learn His ways: free and light.

Several days of rain and humidity do not lend well to a hair-do. Standing before the mirror, I thought of the high maintenance of my “floppy do.” Studying the curls where it couldn’t and the straight where it shouldn’t, I counted the days until my upcoming haircut. His voice invaded my moment of vanity, “Who are you trying to impress?”

David wrote: “God, investigate my life; get all the facts firsthand. I’m an open book to You; even from a distance, You know what I’m thinking.” [Psalm 139:1-2 The Message]

I know I’ve prayed that prayer myself ~ many times. But it seemed He went to meddling when it came to a bad hair day. It wasn’t hair that He was interested in though; it was the motive of my heart.

David continued: “I’m never out of Your sight. You know everything I’m going to say before I start the first sentence. I look behind me and You are there, then up ahead and You’re there, too~Your reassuring presence, coming and going. This is too much, too wonderful~I can’t take it all in!”

I pondered His question. Impress? Was it others I am trying to impress? Or was it myself I was trying to impress? It certainly was not HIM that I was trying to impress with my “do.”

I could relate to David’s writing: “Is there any place I can go to avoid Your Spirit? To be out of Your sight?” [verse 7] When Holy Spirit asked this deep-searching question, I was ready to hide. “You’d find me in a minute–You’re already there waiting!” Oh me…..

Days later, I was still pondering what His question aroused: ‘Can I impress God?’ Before I quickly discounted the question as ridiculous, I began a biblical search on what does impress God. Certainly nothing man-concocted. The conclusive answer I found rested within the mirror of the Word of God: His reflection revealed in His beloved.

The problem, as you can guess, was my soul’s ‘floppy do.’