Going It Alone

If you were meant to go it alone then God wouldn't have put so many good people in your life.

Some to walk ahead of you to light the way, and some to walk beside you to hold your hand.

And some to walk behind you, learning from your example.

Some to encourage you when you're feeling down, and some to help lighten the load.

Some to simply shine a smile in the middle of a gloomy day.

Some to celebrate with you and rejoice in your success when good things come. Some to comfort you when life's hardships and troubles come knocking at your door.

Some to enter your life for a season and some to be your friend and companion on much of the journey.

Some to help you up, and some who will be lifted up by you. Some to give to you and some who will receive from you.

Some to annoy you, to test you, to challenge you, to frustrate you. Some to show you your measure of patience, kindness and gentleness.


All to travel with you on this amazing, adventurous, joyous journey called life.

The God of it All - Clearly Butterflies

A Closer Look ....

The first spring we lived in Brazoria I was surprised to find about a dozen monarch caterpillars -- and about a dozen chrysalises-- out in our garden. I was disturbed because several of the little chrysalises were on very unstable surfaces, like the leaves of a petunia plant! I rescued 6 of them and put them in our carport, tucked safely in a box and secured the fragile leaves to a strong twig.

I also put in the box a couple of the caterpillars -- so I could watch them. I haven't seen this great demonstration of God's Power and Glory since I was in elementary school in Mr. Horton's class.

It was breathtaking -- I watched one of the caterpillars hang upside down, forming a letter "J."
The next day I found him shivering and twisting around, splitting the skin, and then all his yellow and black seemed to dissolve into a smooth greenish sheath. It looked soft and "mushy."

(I read somewhere that this is the stage often called the pupa stage because it is similar to the way an infant is wrapped in swaddling clothes -- and pupa is Latin for "doll.")

There he hung for 10-12 days. The chrysalis hardened into a beautiful jade-green case that reminded me of an elf's magic emerald lantern.

Transparency...

Then the case became transparent and I could see the orange and black wings taking shape inside. I could everything happening -- right before my eyes! I almost forgot what it looked like before -- I was seeing what it was becoming!

There were so many miracles happening at once: God silently transforming the caterpillar into a butterfly inside that little protective case --the case becoming transparent so I could observe it -- and the miracle of me, with physical eyes -- being able to witness it! And with a voice that could proclaim praises to the God of it All..

When the butterflies began to emerge they seem crumpled, damp and weak, probably completely exhausted by the struggle to get out of the tiny cage and take flight. After a few moments their wings appeared to be dry and in their proper shape; they had the strength needed to pursue their lives and they begin to fly away to their own adventures.

Some Assembly Required....

I have read that before the butterfly can fly off, its feeding tube, or proboscis, must be actually assembled. This is a hollow tube the butterfly needs to suck nectar, and when the butterfly first hatches, the two parts forming the proboscis are not yet interlocked, and so he must join those pieces together himself before he can fly off! What a marvel!

There were so many symbols there in front of me. The image of our own death and resurrection.
And how God creates a lowly, but colorful caterpillar, and then transforms it into something even more beautiful.

And also, about the chrysalis becoming transparent. I had never thought about it before -- but isn't that what happens to us....when we first come to Jesus He wraps us in a cocoon of safety and begins changing us into His image.

Then one day, as He is forming His image in us, we become transparent, and those around us don't just see us -- they begin to see the new creature we are becoming -- they begin to see Jesus in us -- and then one day He calls us up and away on His wings of love and we are changed permanently and completely.

I think it's the transparency that teaches me the most now that I am older. When Tyndale translated the New Testament in the 1530's, he used the word "clarify" in John 17, instead of "glorify". I love that idea. We can't truly "glorify" God until we are so transparent that others see God forming His Son in us.

I am told that the word "metamorphosis" is the same word used to describe the "Transfiguration of Jesus" on the mountain when He was with Peter, James and John. And that in Romans 12:2 when we are told to "not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of our minds," that "transform", is the Greek word metamorphosis.

And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into His likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
                 2 Corinthians 3:18 NIV

And all of us have had that veil removed so that we can be mirrors that brightly reflect the glory of the Lord. And as the Spirit of the Lord works within us, we become more and more like Him and reflect His glory even more.
                  2 Corinthians 3:18 NLV

Can others see it happening in us?

Modern Weapons

                                 

                                            Modern Weapons

"Let your conversation always be full of grace" (Colossians 4:6).

Always...full of grace...

I find this admonition hard (and it is a commandment to us, not a suggestion for people who just want to win friends and be popular).

Words have become weapons these days; they wound and scar, permanently disabling people.

We who love Jesus should stand apart from the world, with its mean-spirited comments on social media. (Most times I think it should be called 'hurtful media', not 'social media'. 'Social' sounds too friendly!)

According to Matthew 12, every word -- even offhanded careless ones -- are indicators of what is really in our hearts.

I need to deal with that!

"Lord, save me from the sins of my tongue and the serious flaws of character that produce them. Make my words honest (by taking away my fear), few (by taking away my self-importance), wise (by taking away my thoughtlessness), and kind (by taking away my indifference and selfish irritability and motives).

Help me speak words full of your grace...always... Words that edify, not tear down. Amen."

"Tetelestai" - It Is Finished!

 "Later, knowing that everything had now been finished, and so that Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, 'I am thirsty.' A jar of wine vinegar was there, and so they soaked a sponge in it, and put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant and lifted it to Jesus's lips. When He had received the drink Jesus said, 'It is finished.' With that He bowed His head and gave up His spirit." (John 19)

The Greek word translated as 'it is finished' in our English Bibles is 'tetelestai,' a word of various usages.

On many ancient invoices (from the time of Christ) we find that word verifying that the bill had been 'Paid in full - no balance due.' Today we often pay a bill and our receipt is stamped "Paid in full." Same idea: The debt has been fully satisficed.

Other ancient documents (military) we have found show the word is also used to announce that the army has had victory! 'The war is over --  We have won!' A cry of rejoicing!  'Victory is ours!'

Also it can mean a task or assignment has been completed;  we have records of servants reporting back to their masters that they had finished their assignment. 'Tetelestai' -- The job was complete!

Also, an artist, when finally completing their masterpiece, used the word to indicate their work was finished --  there was nothing more to be added. (Sort of like God pronouncing His creation 'Good'!)

Another use of the word relates to a prisoner who has finished his sentence. 'Tetelestai' on his certificate meant: 'no other penalty or punishment required.'

Tetelestai is the present tense, meaning the action was completed in the past, but the results continue into the present and into the future.

All of these meanings have significance for us! 

Just look at what Jesus was telling us  -- with His last breath!

                               *************

"It is finished," was His cry! Hallelujah! What a Savior!

Blessednesses

My favorite verse today!  It's the answer for everything!

  "Blessed are those who have made the LORD their hope and confidence. They are like trees planted near a stream with roots that reach deep into the water. They are not bothered by heat or drought. Their leaves stay green and they never stop producing fruit" (Jeremiah 17:7-8).

 Perfect, right?

The first word is 'blessed.' It means 'supremely happy and fulfilled.' In Hebrew the word is actually plural -- there is no singular form. It describes a multiplicity of blessings or an intensification of them.

It is also the first word of Psalm 1, and so opens the entire Psalter. (Certainly fitting for the readers!) That verse could have been, correctly, translated, 'Oh the blessednesses of the man whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on His law day and night.' (Psalm 1:1)

And it's in His Word, His law, that we find our 'hope and confidence.'

What are we compared to? A 'tree planted' -- purposefully, intentionally situated by the Master Gardener! We are not wild bushes that sprang up after a spring rain for a short life of painfully seeking moisture and nutrients. We have all we need to thrive and produce abundant fruit!

And that's not all. Look at Isaiah 61:3. He plants us, not as solo trees, but with others and so 'They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of His splendor!'

He has purposefully planted us where we are -- for our good and His glory! To 'display His splendor!'

Where are you planted? Look around you -- we are right where He planted us -- for our good and His glory! To display His splendor!

(Reminds me of the old phrase: 'Bloom where you are planted!')

I can't think of a better way to start the day!