Author Archives: susantrinitysite

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About susantrinitysite

I've been married for almost 40 years and have two adult children, one granddaughter, two grandsons and expecting our second granddaughter in April 2020. My business career includes over 20 years of banking, personal sales, and working in a small local newspaper office. I also served 8 years on our local board of education. I've an active member of our church for 30 years where I enjoy serving with the Connections Team, KidMin, Prayer Team, and as a mentor for the MOPs group. I love to write which gives me opportunities to express my thoughts as well as encourage my readers whenever they stumble onto my page!

TRAIN, TEACH, ENCOURAGE

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“Train up a child in the way he should go (teaching him to seek God’s wisdom and will for his abilities and talents), Even when he is old he will not depart from it. (Proverbs 22: 6)

This verse has often been used as encouragement within the walls of our churches to our parents struggling with prodigal children. The encourager’s intentions are not wrong, however, a deeper understanding what’s being said is as parents, when we get to know our children, how they’re wired, gifted, their talents, we can better direct them towards activities and proper academics to hone in on their particular “bent”–how they learn, what excites them and what brings utter lack of enthusiasm. 

Often, I draw on my father’s family for numerous life experiences that are the backdrop for examples or topics for my weekly writing. This week is no different. As I look back on each of my uncles and aunts lives, including my dad’s, I can truly note where their childhood experiences and talents took them in life.

My Aunt Joy was the second oldest. As she grew old enough to help grandma, quite often she helped care for the younger ones. Helping in the kitchen and chores with grandma were normal. It’s no wonder that as added income for her own family, she cared for several elderly women who actually lived with Joy in their large home. This was a “side gig” she did even after Uncle Ed had passed away. Joy was loving, compassionate, kind, and very patient dealing with aging minds and weary bodies.

Lyle was 17, working in one of the farm fields, when a small plane flew overhead. This disruption in his duties distracted him long enough to pause, looking up as he shielded his eyes to watch this “marvelous machine” pass over the family farm. “One day I’m going to fly, too”, he said. And fly he did. Lyle served in the Air Force as a pilot, retiring as a Colonel. 

Grandpa had a pile of what we’d call common “junk” nowadays. Worn out wood, metal scraps, odd and ends from farm materials, and discarded wheels in a variety of sizes were piled next to the barn. If the boys wanted a sled, well they made one. In summer months they longed for a wagon, so one of them figured out how to fashion one from the pile. Nothing went to waste in the depression years. Access to materials–old or fairly new–was the drafting table for all kinds of things to enhance childhood years. I don’t know the quality of the things the boys made but I do know that all of them had a love and great ability to build anything from a wagon, pair of snow skis, to furniture and homes.

My four aunts inherited grandma’s sewing abilities. Lots of clothing, and later on, numerous quilts were constructed by careful hands and an eye for design. Reading was a favorite pastime as there was no TV or radio in the home. My Aunt Esther was the only girl to graduate college and taught elementary age children until retiring. She had a passion to learn which overlapped with a deep desire to teach.

So, with the start of another school year, it’s my hope that our young parents–our guardians, our grandparents, will embrace how God has created our “littles” as unique individuals. Not every child will excel on an athletic field. Reading may be boring to some while others will tuck themselves into a corner to bury their nose in a books pages. Drawing and creating works of art from raw materials will soothe and fill the child whose creative mind is chomping to test and explore the beauty of color. Create a stack of small musical instruments and watch who will wander over and pick one up to test what kind of sound it makes. 

 The worst thing I think we as parents can do is forcing our child to do and be what goes against their natural inclinations. A great book I read years ago is “Eight Great Smarts: Develop & Nurture Your Child’s Intelligences” (available on Amazon) Each chapter is a short read and helps identify each way a child has been created to learn. And, each chapter will give you guidance on how to develop the hidden stuff in your child!

My Aunt Esther, the avid reader of the girls, preferred books over household chores. Pulling her away from a book to help in the kitchen was a disruption to where exciting novels and non-fiction materials could take her young mind. She was also bold and not afraid to climb trees. She even climbed a water tower in one of the small towns the family lived in for a stretch of time. She had a keen ability to memorize children’s storybooks and often acted them out with silly props for her young students. Her favorites were any of the Dr. Suess storybooks. 

It’s a new school year, from kindergarten to college courses and even trade schools or military enlistments! No matter the age, no matter the path of education, let’s all work together to train, guide and encourage our children along their unique avenues of learning. And let us not forget our wonderful teachers, these men and women who are challenged with 20 plus kids every day, who learn differently. Some will be daydreamers. Others will stay on task. Some will be anxious to get outside to run, jump, play, and climb. There will be those who are content to sit on the sidelines and merely watch, while contemplating what’s next in their day. All of their differences combined which cause minds and bodies to be going in numerous directions are not bad, merely different. Different is not bad. May we embrace “different” and properly fuel busy little people and our young adults, too.

Blessings on a new school year! I’m thankful for teachers who encouraged me to read, helped me get through math that made no sense…brought out my love for vocal music…honed my skills that lead to a passion for writing…my dad who drove me to the library week after week for a new stack of books. Now, I still have stacks of books in different rooms of our home, waiting to be picked up to be devoured, filling my mind with new information! Guess I better buckle down and join all the students who have returned to classrooms!

A LIFE FULFILLED OUT OF OBEDIENCE

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“I figured if the Bible said to obey and honor your parents, I’d live a long time”. 

This was the response given to the question posed to my great aunt Esther when The Flint Journal reporter interviewed her for her 100th birthday celebration. She was asked “why do you think you lived to be 100 years old?” Always fast on her feet with witty remarks, Aunt Esther was actually paraphrasing three verses from the Book of Ephesians, chapter 6, verses 1 through 3: “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Honor your father and mother–which is the first commandment with a promise–so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy a long life on the earth”.

My great aunt was quite the character. She had a mischievous twinkle in her eyes at all times. She was a woman of modesty and what we’d call “old fashioned” tendencies. In her 100 years of life I never saw her in a pair of slacks. She always wore dresses. Her long hair was styled in a messy bun. She was gentle yet firm in her beliefs and expectations of others like the time she “chewed” out my Uncle Lyle for wearing a pair of shorts on one of his visits to her. I’m thinking the visit may have fallen on a Sunday when more “godly rules” were followed. Not to be outwitted by her, Uncle Lyle wore his Air Force dress uniform to her 100th party and asked her “is my attire suitable now, Aunt Esther?” 

My beloved aunt was an evangelist in her own right. She and Uncle Alvis lived in a very small home. During the summer months the garage was used to invite the neighborhood children in for her own version of Vacation Bible School. If the garage wasn’t available, her back porch and small yard became her backdrop for teaching numerous children Bible stories and God’s plan of salvation. Many of those children were influencers in their families and often parents came into a relationship with Christ because of Aunt Esther’s passion for reaching children with the gospel message. In fact, she and several families were the founding members of the current Court Street Church of God in Flint, which was the host building for her 100th birthday. Many of those children–adults by then–attended her party, surrounding her once again to be loved and teased.

She and Uncle Alvis were not blessed with children of their own. Yet, in addition to loving several generations of kids in their neighborhood, they also fostered children who needed a loving secure environment. She was also the sister to my dad’s mother who came to the farm to care for the family each time my grandmother had given birth to a new child. She is credited with holding newborn David, naming him David Paul and declaring that “this one” would grow to be a man in Christian ministry. God heard her proclamation and indeed my Uncle David was a minister in the Free Methodist Church for his entire pastoral career.

Aunt Esther and her wonderful life examples came back in a flood of memories this morning–Wednesday– after my reading schedule took me to Psalm 119. It’s a long chapter and as I read through all the verses I noted five words that occur quite often…Laws, Commands, Precepts, Decrees, Statutes. Obviously, the psalmist is referring to these as belonging to God and a common denominator I also noticed is the concept of “obedience”.  Along with obeying there are also promises such as by following His commands we can have a fulfilling life. His precepts offer divine instructions to guide behavior and practices. Decrees give us God’s eternal plan and purpose, encompassing everything that comes to pass. His laws outline His will and expectations for believers.

O, that it is “that” easy to obey all that God desires for us. Somehow my only memories of Aunt Esther are wrapped in all things positive. As much as I’d like to think in fairness to her as merely another imperfect person in need of a savior, I can’t recall any negative traits or memories of her being nothing short of loving, kind, and passionate for Jesus. 

I certainly have no idea what heaven is like. I know Jesus said He would “go and prepare a place for His children”…mansions with many rooms is how John describes God’s house. Heaven sounds like a pretty grand place. It’s where my Aunt Esther has been for a few years now and when I close my eyes I can see her sitting on a chair or her back porch, Bible in her lap, maybe a flannel graph board, to tell the children at her feet all the wonderful stories from scripture that talk about God’s love, how special they are in His sight, and I’m willing to bet she reminded all of them to “obey their parents”….

Ample time on warm summer days. A garage or a porch. A few supplies. Maybe some lemonade and cookies. A Bible with worn pages. A twinkle in your eye that was magnetic. A big warm hug. These simple things were all that Aunt Esther needed to fulfill her purpose in God’s plan. Visualizing what her day must have looked like makes me smile and wonder….is she sitting on a small porch in heaven enjoying the fruit of her labors? Or did God promote her to a larger one to accommodate all the souls she won to Christ? Is she still adorned in a modest dress with a messy bun, her thick glasses almost hiding the twinkle in her eyes? Or, is she wearing a white robe of righteousness with her promised “new body”? No matter the reality of heaven and what I think it may look like…I’m excited one day to see her and get one of her “big hugs” along with “hello, Susie”…..

WHY ARE WE SO QUICK TO BE OFFENDED?

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“A person’s wisdom yields patience; it is to one’s glory to overlook an offense”.

(Proverbs 19: 11)

Isn’t this quite the statement considering what is a common thread of conversations in today’s culture–at every turn of comments on social media or televised news outlets–”someone is taking offense at “someone” or “something” that’s been said. While I don’t dismiss sincere mean spirited opinions, the bottomline for me is that we’re living, actually cultivating, a generation purposely “looking” at something to be offended by whether it’s from a person, an organization, or a business’ method of operating. 

Years ago when I was a child, I was with my parents on a Friday night; it was the evening of their mixed doubles bowling league. All the teams were made up from City of Saginaw folks. At this time in dad’s career, he had been promoted to a position that required him to supervise a small staff of people. On one Friday night, one of his newer employees brought his wife over to meet dad. After the introduction was made the wife innocently blurted out “Oh, you’re the boss my husband doesn’t like!” I can still remember how I felt when I heard the exchange. I am able to recall dad’s smile and chuckle. I don’t remember him giving her any type of response. He maintained his composure.

On the car ride home I couldn’t wait to ask my dad “how could she say such a thing!” and “aren’t you upset that she said that!” Dad was still calm, retained his composure and responded “not everyone likes their boss” along with “she probably didn’t realize what she was actually saying, maybe she was nervous”. That was my dad, quick to give everyone the benefit of the doubt rather than get angry over something that was trivial to him.

In the past two weeks American Eagle launched an ad promoting their blue jeans. Using Sydney Sweeney as their model for televised ads, they’ve come under some heavy scrutiny for their ad copy which says “Genes are passed down from parents to offspring, often determining traits like hair color, personality and even eye color My jeans are blue.” 

I’ve seen the ad several times. I’m not offended. I don’t have blue eyes or blonde hair. I certainly don’t look like Miss Sweeney. I’m not offended. She looks beautiful in American Eagle’s jeans. Will I purchase a pair based on the ad? Most likely not; I’m not your typical American Eagle shopper at this point in my life.

A popular quote that has evolved in some Christian circles is “there’s a demon behind every bush”. While there’s absolute truth regarding spiritual warfare inside the Christian community, there is no biblical reference that supports this statement. So, I think we can compare quick tendencies to blaming satan for most of the negative behaviors in ourselves or others is akin to the same rapid offenses some people find in everyday conversations, speeches given by our variety of leaders, and in this case–an ad for blue jeans.

In my humble opinion there are more important matters to be offended by than a blue jean ad. For years I’ve been offended by the upsurge in pornography use, human trafficking, disrespect for authority in our schools, and above all, twisting the truth of scripture in order to justify personal beliefs and life choices that are contrary to God’s commands. I like what this man, Russell Moore, says when answering the question “are we living in a post Christian culture?”

“Someone said to me one time, “We just need to get back to where we were before this culture fell apart.” And I said, “You don’t even remember when the culture fell apart, because the culture fell apart somewhere between the Tigris and the Euphrates rivers in Genesis 3.” Every generation since then has manifested fallenness and brokenness—just in different ways. There are different challenges in each generation, but they’re always there. Where I would say that we’re a post-Christian society is that we’re a post-pretend-Christian society. There was a previous era when people had a certain basic understanding of biblical truths and some connection to the church. That brought some benefit because, in many cases, there was some sort of stable understanding of morality. But, it also brought a lot of drawbacks because a nominal Christianity doesn’t save.” (source Crossway.org)

When confronted whether to be truly offended or not, my personal response draws from my dad’s gentle wisdom and composure in a seemingly awkward moment. Did that one woman’s description of him define or determine his future as a successful supervisor? I’d have to say, no. I also remember what else dad said in response to her exposing her husband’s dislike for him. “I guess if he doesn’t like me it means I’m doing my job”. 

As Christians, we have jobs to do, too. We were commanded in the book of Deuteronomy to “love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength”.  When we put God first, everything falls into place. When we love God and others with sincere hearts, those around us will experience genuine compassion. When we are determined to be on the lookout for every offense, satan is pleased he was able to distract us from what’s truly important living as authentic Christ followers. 

ARE YOU A GENEROUS GIVER?

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Subtle reminders have popped up in recent weeks that a return to school for children of all ages is around the corner. Aisles at major stores are now stocked with school supplies. This week while I was in town I saw a group of high school girls running, training for their opening season of cross country this fall no doubt. Emails prompting me to take advantage of “back-to-school” sales are filling my inbox. Memories from my own childhood years, anticipating returning to school have crossed my otherwise occupied mind with lingering summer time activities and my own anticipation of fall. 

Even though I’m still hanging on to enjoying time catching sun rays whether on the deck with a cold glass of water or going for a walk after dinner when the temp is more bearable, I’m finding myself looking ahead to the end of hot summer days that will be consumed by fall’s cooler temps. Outside plants are beginning to slow down, showing signs of distress from July’s heat. I’m waiting for berries to ripen on bushes. I’ve been following ads from local farmers so I can plan what to purchase and “put up” for winter months. It’s been a long time since I’ve had to make a list of school supplies to purchase and admittedly, I miss those years. Yet, fortunately, I’ve found new ways to still enjoy the feelings that come from new crayons, scissors, glue, binders, shoes and clothes–all those things that make up a “back-to-school” shopping list.

We’ve got four grandchildren, all school age now. Each year we help contribute to their needs–whether  with supplies or clothes. It’s fun to participate in their excitement preparing for a new school year. For the second year, our Celebrate Recovery ministry has conducted a drive for back-to-school supplies which has allowed me to purchase items to help fill tables decorated with “all the things”–crayons, glue, sticky notes, pencils, pens, paper, binders, backpacks, etc. Generosity is abundant from our small community inside and outside the church. It’s a beautiful thing to witness.  Being a generous giver is something I know that pleases God and it’s reassuring  He doesn’t measure the size of the gift, He’s concerned with the attitude of hearts. 2 Corinthians 9: 7 says “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

Our small community always has needs. Staying connected with people through friendships, the workplace, church, school, and even social media allow us to be aware how each one of us can help. When a call comes from the Family Impact Center that shelves are empty, our community rises to the challenge to fill them over and over again. When hardships come to families with unexpected medical expenses, go fund me accounts are created and soon each goal is met with monetary gifts. These and more are beautiful examples of community in action!

I also believe a generous community exemplifies the principle stated in Acts 4: 32 “All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.”

It’s wonderful to be part of a generous community. It’s heartwarming to see evidence of everything families and local businesses do to help care for the needs of folks who need a hand up. As you and I continue to enjoy everything that is provided for us, may we always be on the lookout for ways to help someone else. Struggles are real. Hardships come, sometimes with no warning. Opportunities to give and serve are always among us. May we have eyes to see, ears to hear, and hearts that respond with open hands to fill someone’s emptiness. Together, let’s be a community of “like minded” believers taking action to unite as generous people!

GO WHICH DIRECTION?

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It was during a recent road trip that I realized a valuable lesson. Just because the technology you’re relying on for directions says one thing..it’s not necessarily accurate. Therefore, by obeying what the application is telling you, there’s still room to trust your gut. In our case, the old reliable feeling of trusting the gut came too late.

Last week we drove to Indiana, departing from DeWitt about 8:00 pm after watching our granddaughter’s softball game. Our destination was Fremont Indiana where I had reserved a hotel room. Our plan was to open the hotel’s app on my IPhone once we crossed into Indiana and have GPS navigate us to our location which would have us arrive about 11 pm. Unfortunately, in hindsight, we probably should have opened the app sooner because the route that was given put us on a highway heading in the opposite direction for at least 15 miles before we could turn back in the correct direction. In full disclosure, late night driving, being tired, getting bad directions, and the inconvenience of added time and miles to an otherwise easy trip is a strain on nerves and emotions. Because we had no other alternative, we stayed the course that “Siri” was announcing and arrived at our hotel safely, very tired, upset with one another and with the information GPS fed us.

Our experience reminded me of the account in Genesis about the Israelites being set free from slavery in Egypt, getting across the Red Sea with miraculous results, entering the desert and being there for 40 years. Their journey from Egypt to the Promised Land was about 250 miles which meant they could have covered their route in a matter of months. Instead, according to scripture and scholars, finding themselves wandering in the Sinai Peninsula came from a disobedience against God, lack of faith in His guidance, too. Their 40 year delay in entering the Promised Land served as a reminder of the consequences of disobedience.  Yet, in those same years they did learn survival was impossible without God’s provision and guidance. Their journey through the desert is a powerful story of enduring lessons about faith, obedience, and God’s faithfulness in providing for His people. Today, thousands of years later, we can glean our own lessons from their experiences as we reflect on our journey through life.

What lessons can we learn? We need to depend on God. There are consequences to disobedience towards God. There is an importance of faith. God will meet needs even when we have strayed from His plan.

When we opened the application to get directions to our hotel, we were trusting in the information. We got on the highway heading west even though we knew we needed to be going east. We ignored Siri’s prompt to make a U-turn as those maneuvers on a toll road are illegal. We stayed the course even though we sputtered at one another or sat in silence waiting for each prompt telling us where to turn. Thankfully, although we had traveled 15 miles out of our way, we did arrive at our destination. All it cost us was some negative emotions and a $2 toll fee.

I’m chuckling now. It’s safe to do so now that our experience is behind us. A half hour delay really wasn’t worth the arguments we created from being weary and frustrated.

Now, we have a good story to tell even though the mystery remains as to why “Siri” launched us west instead of east. I imagine the Israelites had plenty more good stories to tell after 40 years of desert life. Like, have you heard the one about how God parted the Red Sea so we could escape Pharoah? Or, did you know there’s a lot of recipes for eating manna, this funny dew-like wafer that only lasts for 24 hours? Or, we never had to shop for clothes and our feet never swelled from all the walking and heat…somehow our wardrobe never wore out.

Moses had the original GPS applications of all mankind, God Himself. Today, we have Siri and other maps with voice activation to direct us. But, we still have God.  He is absolutely reliable. The others remain questionable at times. Both will get us to our destination. Both will reward us with stories to tell about our experiences along the way!

CLAY & BEAUTY

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It’s been my practice of late that after morning dew has evaporated from our deck chairs, coffee in hand, I enjoy some of my first hour sitting in the quiet that a new day offers. With the exception of numerous birds flying back and forth from our trees to those of neighbors, our neighborhood is quiet. By the time I rise I think most of the folks in the homes near us have already left for work. Even though it’s summer vacation from school, there are no children playing outside. I think the kids who do live near us are older now, the ages where they maybe prefer the comfort of air conditioning versus riding bikes or playing outside in July’s heat. Which brings me to my next thoughts. July has been a bit brutal.

As I work in a few flower beds that I maintain, I am beginning to notice some of my flowers have succumbed to recent temperatures, regardless of consistent watering and care. Once vibrant blooms that flourished under June’s beautiful weather, now lay limp or dried out no matter the attention I’ve given them. July’s heat has also caused numerous unwanted grasses to grow and thrive around plants, thus creating more work to keep clear and clean, carefully planning what time of day to work without collapsing in a heap from the sun’s scorching rays.

On a positive note, the two tomato plants on our deck are doing great! Flower buds have made the turn to green fruit. Careful pruning along with watering and fertilizing are giving me hope we will have a nice harvest when the fruit turns juicy red. We are also keeping close watch for any of those nasty worms that can strip a tomato plant bare in the matter of 24 hours.

My devotion reading this morning (Wednesday) was from Jeremiah 18: 1-6. In these verses, God is giving Jeremiah–a prophet–a visual description of His relationship with Israel, describing His sovereignty over them and His ability to remake or reshape them as He sees fit. These few sentences offer a beautiful image of a potter carefully shaping a lump of clay into a vessel that is pleasing to him, and useful. When properly applied to our own life, we can imagine ourselves as a lump of clay being molded and shaped into a beautiful vessel for God’s purposes. As easy as it may sound, therein lies the rub, transformation can be slow and difficult, especially when a prideful or rebellious heart is in opposition to the work of God’s hands trying to mold and reshape our sinful nature.  This is why I love the words from 1 Corinthians 13: 7 “It (love) always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres”. This promise from proper love offers encouragement for every person seeking to find comfort in our world and above all, a relationship with the living God.

Birds singing. A gentle breeze ushering in the coming heat of another July day. Clouds enshrining the morning sun in the east. These and more of God’s creation fill my morning. Along with those things, I smiled in amusement as I opened the door to sit on our deck with a cup of coffee. Perched on the deck railing was a young robin. He or she was still sporting baby feathers on top of its head. Startled by my presence as it flew away I could tell it was still learning the mechanics of flight. Mom was waiting for her youngster on the edge of a flower bed and for a few moments, baby and mom “chatted”. Maybe mom was saying “good job flying!” or “see, I told you there’s other creatures around our yard and sometimes they appear without notice”. Hopefully, mom and baby will come to know I am not a threat to them. On the contrary, I like to imagine that our lil family of robins is aware that they matter to God and they, like me, like you, have purpose. As proclaimed in Psalm 19: 1 “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.”

Lumps of clay. Skies that are a canvas for God’s handiwork. Heat from July’s sunny hot days. All have a purpose. Each point us heavenward to proclaim God’s glory.  Be safe during these hot summer days. May you grasp that you have a heavenly Father waiting to cheer you on–”good job!” and that He will love, guide, and instruct you in preparation for every day under the sun.

WATER IS “LIFE”

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“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.”  (Matthew 5: 44-45)

Today’s gentle morning rain has evoked many wandering thoughts, even memories from childhood. In the midst of top headlines regarding flood waters in Texas, I pondered  the extremes that rain can cause in our world. Case in point–consider the days of Noah. This remarkable story in biblical history has been the topic of many sermons and even made its way into movie studios.

For anyone that knows me, there’s no doubt  my heart is not breaking for all the families who have lost loved ones in the Texas flood. I cannot imagine. As a mom, and now a grandmother to four young children, if I overthink the situation and insert our own loved ones into the headlines, well, let’s just say “there would be no words to describe my pain”.

I found this simple quote online. “Water is life”. It also can cause devastation.  It ties in to the verse I’ve used to open this blog entry. God’s creativity in a gentle rain as well as forces contained in waterfalls, flood waters, tidal waves, etc. are part of our world.  Choosing to be outside in a gentle rain causes no discomfort other than getting damp clothes. Being in the path of raging flood waters is an entirely different experience. 

In 1986, living in Saginaw, our area experienced unusual rainfall for several days that caused the Saginaw River to crest. Other small rivers in surrounding counties also overflowed their banks. Many homes and businesses were under threat. Emergency crews worked tirelessly building walls with sandbags to hold back the water. My husband and I joined forces with his employer at the time–Domino’s Pizza–to deliver pizzas to the workers. Accompanying us was a Saginaw Police officer who was assigned to the city’s schools as a liaison. In the midst of this tragedy, we did our part to ease some burdens.

Our own residence saw at least 12 inches of water in the basement. A branch of the bank that employed me suffered extreme damage from flood waters created by the Cass River. Water levels tall enough to cover the cash vault and safe deposit boxes were record highs.  Numerous homes in my county experienced basements that cracked and caved in due to water pressure. Crops near floodplains were destroyed. In short, our area was a mess, further indicated by the amount of household trash that started appearing on curbsides for garbage pickup. Warnings to junk scavengers were published as a way to protect folks from dangers of bacteria.

When tragedy strikes under forces created by water, it’s difficult to understand Jesus’ words that rain “falls on the just and the unjust”. Simply understood, a rainy day can either be one of gratitude or a reason to grumble. The farmer whose fields are parched is thankful for nature’s thirst quenching for dry crops. Vacationers looking to enjoy sunning tired bodies under a hot sun at a beach groan with disappointment when an umbrella replaces sunscreen.

This week I’ve heard some pretty miraculous stories of survival in the Texas flood. I cannot ignore or discount the equally heartbreaking ones about death, especially for many children. I’ve also heard accusations and blame being cast on public officials regarding how quickly the floodwaters were produced by the heavy rainfall, as if ANY one man could have restrained the water.  All the blame and accustations made me very sad.

In the account of Noah building the ark, God actually allowed him to preach repentance to the people living in very dark sin. It took Noah approximately 120 years to build the ark, therefore, in those years Noah’s community was warned, given ample time to repent. I don’t know what God would have done if indeed many would have turned from evil…with every blow of Noah’s crude hammers and tools, sermons and warnings weren’t enough to hold back God’s anger and eventual flood waters that wiped out all living things on earth, saving only eight people and a bunch of animals. 

Yes, water IS life. But it is also a force to be reckoned with in God’s creation. When tragedies come, innocent lives will be taken. I read a social media post where the person wrote “why did God kill those children in Texas?” to which my answer is “He didn’t”. Since the original sin of Adam and Eve, we live in a fallen world. After Noah’s flood, our world changed again. We live under the “laws of creation” and “the laws of man”. 

The Bible speaks about times that will come…famines, earthquakes, rumors of war…it also tells us that no one knows the time or hour that Jesus will return. Scripture doesn’t leave us without warning or protection, though. Our response is to be ready. That readiness isn’t an escape route; it comes by having a relationship with Him. 

I grieve with those who are grieving in Texas. I rejoice with those who are joyous and thankful for spared lives. And, in my despair, I remain connected to the truth that “God’s thoughts and His ways” are above mine.

Unfortunately, future tragedies will be coming to our world. Will you be ready? Jesus said “He is the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” That’s what I call an escape plan from any harshness the world throws at us.

I found a simple quote online that merely says “water is life”. I also verified that an average human can only survive about 3-5 days without water. In contrast, a person “may” survive without food for one to two months. That’s quite a difference. 

TRUE FREEDOM

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Freedom.

Sitting here, my thoughts about the concept of “freedom” are racing in many directions, kind of like when a canister of beads is spilled out on a floor, tiny balls of color scrambling and rolling in every direction!

Further contemplation allowed me to reign in those scrambled thoughts and narrow down definitions of “freedom” to two important tenants 1) the kind of freedom I have living in America and 2) the benefits of freedom living as a Christ follower.

Coming off last week’s celebration of July 4th was cause for yet another year reflecting on past memories that surround this important holiday in our nation. Growing up in Saginaw, we were fortunate to enjoy a fireworks display at one of the city’s largest recreation areas, Hoyt Park. Dad always made sure we left in plenty of time to find a parking spot. Mom put together blankets to sit on and wrap around us if the air chilled. Mosquito spray was carefully packed in a bag of snacks she assembled. We joined countless families on the park’s hill, anxiously waiting for the dark of night to become the backdrop for the beautiful designs each explosion created. Those that came with a loud boom always caused me to cover my ears and find safety in the arms of my dad. Early childhood years weren’t filled with completely  understanding the “freedom” we Americans were celebrating; those lessons came along later as I advanced through school when classes on our country’s history were introduced, studied, and tested upon. Now that I understand the sacrifices and great risks our founding fathers–and those who served in the military–gave, I’m truly humbled and grateful.

However, there is another “freedom” for which I cannot find adequate words to express my appreciation. That’s the quality of life that I have every day as a Christ follower.  When I think about how different my life could have gone, had I not made some difficult decisions in my early 20s, changes of lifestyle, etc. I dare say I’d not be the person I am today. Christ’s sacrifice for the gift of salvation in my messed up life is one I may never fully comprehend, yet in simplicity I understand and accept the work of the Cross and its implications for living a life of freedom in my identity in Him and not the trappings the world offers.

In one of my favorite teachings from the ministry “Walking the Text”, I heard an explanation that expanded why the Apostle Paul wrote about men removing their hats when entering churches of his day. For years–and with no argument from me–doing so indicated respect and humility before God. Fast forward and we witness many church goers openly criticizing men for wearing hats in church. It took listening to Brad’s teaching about “hats in church” that corrected those criticisms. . Brad taught me that in Roman’s culture, which included owning slaves, when an indentured servant gained his freedom, he was given a blue hat to wear in public indicating he was “free”. If that freed man was a Christian and walked into his church, his hat was an obvious marker of his status under Roman rule. Paul used the hat’s purpose to teach that though a person could be “free” from a life of slavery in a Roman household, there was “greater” freedom as a Christ follower, thus removing the hat showed others the rightful authority and granter of true “freedom”. I love that! What a difference it makes when bad or false teachings are taught in a way to present truth that highlights historical and spiritual significance.

Galatians 5: 1 is a perfect definition for freedom–: “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery”. 

Explosions of beautiful fireworks are behind us for another year. Trappings of the day have been put away. Celebrations focused on our country’s bountiful “freedoms” are most likely shelved, too, which causes a bit of sadness in me. In our ever changing world, being aware of increased tension and persecution of innocent lives, I don’t want to lose my respect and humility for the privilege of living in America. Above all, being a Christ follower for over 40 years is still one that requires daily surrender and sacrifice on my part as an effort to honor the One who gave His life for me.

Just as a child who had to learn in school about my American history, with equal importance is my study and discipleship in Christ. Both have value. Both teach about freedom. Both can be threatened. Only one can endure no matter the pressures the world tries to enforce. For that, I raise a hallelujah!

DON’T LET SIZE FOOL YOU

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I am a self admitting proscranitor along with inconsistency regarding exercise goals. My determination ebbs and flows like ocean tides that instinctively sync with our moon. I’d be ecstatic if my desire to walk outside was tied to a natural phenomena in God’s creation, but hope and wish all I want, the fact remains that I am in charge of my choices regarding exercise.

Before sitting down to write this week I laced up my reliable shoes and got outside on the paved road that loops in a “U” shape through a neighborhood that was built up with homes in recent years. Their road makes a very nice safe place to walk, even run, without danger of speeding cars. As much as I enjoy what my neighborhood offers in safety, I found that I’m not the only one benefiting from the road’s mostly smooth surface between well groomed lawns. Catching my eye as I strolled along were numerous small anthills between the road’s edge and multiple lawns. 

I knew we had gotten rain throughout the night as the ground was still wet under humid conditions. Collected dirt and lawn clippings swept along the road like a river were now flat and damp, displaying an appearance of a dried up river bed. Their bronzy hues made a perfect setting for the anthills that are standing small though erect with no apparant damage to carefully laid granules of dirt to create small pyramid shaped homes. I was curious about how these little creatures build the entrances to their tunnel homes. This is what I found: Ants are a superorganism. They have division of labor, use collective problem solving techniques. The nest is one of architecture with a variety of materials, use of soil mechanics, has built in defenses and includes drainage systems. The mound we see on surfaces is the entrance. Underground lies intricate tunnel systems.

In summary, the strength of an anthill lies not just in its physical structure but also in the collective power, sophisticated organization, and adaptable nature of the ant colony within it. (Source AI overview)

I’ve always thought watching ants at work is a fascinating pastime, especially when I was a kid sitting under a shade tree in our front yard. All these years later, now, in adulthood they still intrigue me. Naturally, I know that ants are even mentioned in scripture where in Proverbs 6: 6-9 we humans are admonished to “Go the ant, O lazy one; observe her ways and be wise, which, having no chief, overseer or ruler, she prepares her food in the summer and brings in her provisions (of food for the winter) in the harvest.” (Amplified Version

Ouch! To be thought of as lazy compared to a tiny ant. To be instructed that these little guys accomplish a lot of hard work without need of a supervisor! Lots of lessons to be learned, a lot of humble pie to eat comparing human nature to that of a small insect. How like God, though, to use anything in His creation in an attempt to impart wisdom to mankind.

In addition to my fascination with ants, I must also confess that I’m not overly happy when they make their way into our home. In past years, we’ve had our share of intruders, always in the same spot along a kitchen window over our sink. By using homemade remedies and careful re-caulking around obvious entry points I was thrilled we didn’t have our annual visitors scurrying across dirty dishes or on the floor in search of a crumb. As useful as ants are to our ecosystem, I have always drawn the line at them sharing living space with us. As long as they stay outside, I will not bother them. I make every attempt not to flatten the entrance mounds to their underground homes. I don’t wash them away with a garden hose or spray strong insecticides in the lushness of our lawn.

I’ll continue to be delighted by ants–as long as they stay put in their natural habitats –and remain humbled that God considers them to “be exceedingly wise”. (Proverbs 30: 24) Certainly you and I can learn a lot from these problem solving hard workers. If it wasn’t so, I dare say God would not have mentioned them in His written Word.

MORNING NOURISHMENT, SMALL GIFTS FROM HEAVEN

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“From the dew of heaven and the richness of the earth, may God always give you abundant harvests of grain and bountiful new wine. (Genesis 27: 28 New Living Translation)

Much to my delight, one morning  last week offered me perfect conditions to enjoy sitting on our deck in the early hours of my day. With my second mug of coffee, my Bible and journal in hand, I made my way to a comfortable deck chair to sit in the sunshine and also enjoy a gentle breeze on my body. But, before I could begin my little “retreat”, I needed to wipe my chair dry from  morning’s dew. Funny how a mere amount of water on a chair can create an uncomfortable feeling or harm the pages of my journal if I should choose to set it down momentarily.

I’ve always enjoyed a slow quiet start to my day. Even in the years I had to be awake and up for school, I preferred to wake on my own, never to an alarm or my mother’s urgent voice coaxing me from the comfort of warm blankets. Now, I still find great inner peace inside the confines of quiet that our yard offers as I greet a new day with happy anticipation for what it will offer, the tasks I want to accomplish, books to read, music to fill the house–all part of who I am and what brings me joy.

So, as I sat drinking my coffee, journal in my lap, I slowly became engaged with my surroundings, observing with my eyes and ears all the activity of the morning. Soon I realized I was a disturbance to several birds and one chipmunk who wanted to feed at the seed we provide every day. They came close but quickly exited when seeing me. A blue jay landed on the clothes line pole to check out the situation. A sparrow flew in like a bomber plane and with great skill made a hasty escape when spying me. Off in the distance I could hear birds of several kinds singing as well as crickets or other insects joining in the chorus. I felt the irony of my inner peace being invaded by nature’s choir and thought to myself “who’s invading who’s world? Am I inserting myself into nature’s habitat or are these little creatures interrupting my space?”

As I enjoyed all the songs, my mind returned to dealing with morning dew on my chair. A couple questions formed from my curiosity and I found myself writing them in my journal. “What is the source of dew?” “What purpose does dew serve?” I vowed I would look for answers to both questions. A quick search online provided me fast simple answers. Dew is formed when water in the air condenses on plant leaves during cool nights. Why? It helps plants accelerate their metabolism, improves soil moisture conditions, and helps plants survive in drought conditions. (source Shuncy.com)

Dew’s temporary blanket of moisture on every surface–living or inanimate–serves as beneficial or a slight nuisance. As quickly as it may form, several hours under the heat of the day causes it to dry up, disappear, forgotten about until the next morning when the cycle will repeat. Its repetition reminds me of a favorite portion of scripture from the Bible: “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.” (Lamentations 3: 22-24)

Morning dew has the capacity to quench an arid plant and nourish the very soil around it. So it is with God’s great love for you and me. From the beginning of time itself, our sun has risen every day. Birds and other creatures have announced the arrival of a new day with their heavenly chorus and whether they have inserted themselves into our habitat or the other way around, it does not matter. What is important is remembering and embracing that the Lord is “our portion”…..no matter our current circumstances we “can wait for Him”….and simply find rest, inner peace, and above all, incredible benefits of daily provision from our heavenly Father.

“Whatever is good and perfect is a gift coming down to us from God our Father, who created all the lights in the heavens. He never changes or casts a shifting  shadow.”(James 1: 17)