Eden and America…Any Similarities?

I walked into my garden one Sunday morning recently. I'd had a restless night of sleep and needed to calm my heart and soul. As I listened to the birds sing, the quiet of the moment caused my thoughts to wander…

Looking around my garden and the beauty of my flowers and plants, the different shades of green, the starkness of white in the irises, the hope of flowers yet to bloom, I was reminded of a garden of long ago…Eden.

The lushness of Eden must have been incomparable to anything we can imagine. The best thing about Eden though was the Presence of God. The Bible says in Genesis 3:8 "And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day…"

I can't imagine, in my 21st century mind, what that must have been like.

I can imagine, however, the horror Eve must have felt when she was thrown out of paradise. One decision cost her everything. She listened to someone who deceived her and now she was branded and thrown out of the presence of the Almighty. Angels with flaming swords were assigned to guard the entrance to her former home. She could never return.

No longer could she walk in the cool of the day with the One who loved her most.

Isn't that what all of us are searching for, our Garden of Eden, and someone to love us?

Since the beginning of time and the original garden, God put inside each one of us a hunger for Himself and His Presence.

One of my gardens

I believe that's why so many people are drawn to gardening and gardens. They are alive with beauty and hope. When we are in the quiet of His creation, He speaks with a still, small voice, words of love and truth.

When I sit in my garden, for any length of time and meditate, chat with family or a friend, I'm rejuvenated.

Most of us, and I'm including myself, search for meaning in worldly things. We look for love in people and possessions, in social standing and power, or through politics and education. We allow the serpent to slither up to us and whisper lies, asking the same question he asked Eve, "Did God really say…?"

If we are not anchored in the truth of His Word we believe the latest trends and beliefs fed to us by Hollywood and Washington. It's time we educated ourselves instead of believing everything fed to us by the political and social thinkers of our society. Our very lives depend on it.

We are celebrating a day of freedom in our country…the greatest country ever established because of her constitution of freedom for all people of color, creed or religion. However, we have turned our backs on the God who gives us ultimate freedom to worship Him in truth and spirit.

He will not allow us to continue in this spirit of freedom.  Just as He had to throw Eve out of the garden for her disobedience, He will also judge our country in the same manner.

He walked with Eve in the cool of the day, enjoying her presence, just as she enjoyed His. His heart was broken because of her sin, but He provided for her and for Adam. A tremendous price was paid for their disobedience.

God has blessed our country for over two hundred years but He will not continue to tolerate our habitual and in-your-face sin against Him. I don't want to wake up one day and find my freedoms stripped away because of ignorance, laziness, or disobedience.

Our Pledge of Allegiance still says, "One nation under God…" I would beg to differ that point right now. We have turned to many other gods.

It's not too late if we'll join together and pray as a nation of people who still believe in the one true God, ask His forgiveness, and turn our hearts back to Him.

Otherwise, our Eden as we know it will be stripped away from us.

And worse than that, the protection and relationship we have known from Almighty God in years past…g o n e.

Join me this Independence Day in praying for our country. Let's not find ourselves looking back at Eden one day thinking if only...

Cindy

When It's Time To Let Go

Me and my dad-circa 1960

Why is letting go so hard? I'm a master at holding on…a wimp at letting go.

My dad died in August of 2011. As of Monday, I still had his clothes in my possession. Four boxes sat in tidy stacks in my garage. I wasn't ready to let go of the physical part of him that remained.

I have our memories, the good and the bad. Fortunately, the bad memories are fading. I've chosen the path of forgiveness. He earned that before he died.

My epiphany came at Christmas this past year. I was reading early on Christmas morning, before everyone else got up, about Jesus giving up Heaven's glory when He came to earth as a baby; how He chose to humble Himself and be born in a cave with animals looking on. As I was reading, the Lord spoke to my heart and said, "What about your dad's clothes, are you ready to give those up now?"

I knew the issue wasn't clothes, it was about letting my dad go. But God used that moment to get my attention.

His Son knew all about letting go.

Oswald Chambers says:
"We must build our faith not on fading light but on the Light that never fails. When "important" individuals go away we are sad, until we see that they are meant to go, so that only one thing is left for us to do––to look into the face of God for ourselves."

Me and Dad-circa 2007

My dad was a gentle, humble man. He didn't have many worldly possessions by the time he came to live with me. His clothes and shoes were all he had left and I wanted them to count for something.

I want to imagine him smiling from Heaven. I can see his eyes dancing now…

"But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me…

2 Timothy 4:16-17 NKJV

And this is what I did…

I donated his clothes and shoes to June and Carroll Emery and friends who are having a huge yard sale on Saturday, April 26th, to benefit Christian Learning Centers of the Upstate. I've written about this organization in a previous post.

I think he would be happy to know the funds raised will help children and teens learn about Jesus.

Letting go is a process. It has a different time table for everyone. Be patient with those you love. Give them grace and kindness.

Stay the course and don't let anyone tell you when it's your time to let go. You'll know, and God will direct your steps in how to do it.

He has never failed me. It took thirty-eight years for me to finally grieve and let my mom go. 

Life is a series of grabbing hold and letting go. The key is looking to the Master, walking close enough to hold His hand. One thing you can be sure of, He will never let you go.

Blessings from My Little Corner,

Cindy

P.S. If you live in the Upstate of South Carolina and are interested in the yard sale, please contact me through the blog or Facebook and I'll give you directions on the location of the yard sale. 

A Look Back...My Year of Grace

Laura, Katy and me at The Cove

I'm not a girl who makes New Year's resolutions or picks a word for the year. I'm a simple person. I love deeply, get my feelings hurt easily, try to live joyfully and love Jesus with all my heart.

I've changed in so many ways through the last several years...the result of physical and emotional changes in my life. Lost friendships and relationships cause pain and eventually take a toll. My feelings haven't always been so tender.

God began a work in me in the summer of 2012, actually it began in 2006 but I couldn't see the big picture till now. In the summer of 2012 something began stirring in my soul. His presence was felt like never before. This past year has been the most significant year of my adult life as He reminded me of who He is and what He wants from me.

In February, 2013 I went to a writers' conference at The Cove - The Billy Graham Training Center in Asheville, North Carolina. Little did I know, God had a plan for my life that would include my dream of writing and ultimately, my healing of childhood issues.

It couldn't possibly be anyone but God Himself as the source. If I could open the pages of my daily journal you would stand in awe, as I have. Its pages are stained with tears, not always from sadness, but humility and grace...a sense of why me?!!

Finding peace

This year I've experienced the highest highs and the lowest lows, but He was with me every step of the way.

"Because of the tender mercy of our God,

by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven

to shine on those living in darkness

and in the shadow of death,

to guide our feet into the path of peace."

Luke 1:78-79

And so...I've chosen a few pictures that capture the highlights of my year...an amazing year, one I'll never forget.

 My Year of Grace.

What kind of year have you had? Please share in the comments. Don't be shy...

Happy New Year from My Little Corner,
Cindy

Proverbs 31 Writers' Conference

High school/college friend reunion

A treasure returned after 40 years

Weddings...

Birthdays...

Special friends of the heart

Graduations...

Special Christmas tradition with
The Roh Family



When A Simple Christmas Wasn't Enough

When I was a little girl in the 1960's, Christmas was simple...at least the ones in my memory were. They may have been hurried and busy for my mom but if they were I don't remember.

Circa 1964

We had a tradition of going to look at lights every Christmas Eve. New pajamas awaited us after supper, usually with feet in them when we were young. After riding around our small town, eyes wide in wonder at blinking, colored lights, we'd come home full of excitement.

The four of us would gather around our tree to open gifts from grandparents. We'd drink my dad's homemade hot cocoa. Simple. The four of us. It was enough.

And then life changed forever the Christmas of 1974 when Mom died.

When I married, our first Christmas together was spent in the log cabin. We weren't even going to put up a tree. On Christmas Eve, neither of us could stand it, so we went into the woods and found a "Charlie Brown" tree. We put a few scraggly ornaments on its bare branches and it was enough.

We were warm, safe and snug in our new home. Even though sadness enveloped me each year, I knew the real meaning of Christmas. Jesus had come to earth...Emmanuel had come.

Aunt Judy sends goody bags of surprises

After waiting nearly nine years to hear the cry of a baby in our home, God blessed us with Andy at Christmas. His birth announcement came within a few hours of the death of my mother twelve years earlier. That changed everything for me. Bailey came two years later. Our family was complete.

Christmas took on new life.

In my desire to make it the "Southern Living" Christmas, I conjured up all these images in my head of what it should look like. I wanted to make up for all my lost Christmases. I think I went looking for Christmas in all the wrong places. Somewhere along the way I bought into the world's image of what the holiday should look like. I heaped all these expectations on myself. I was let down and it had nothing to do with a baby, a manger, shepherds or angels. It had more to do with shopping, decorations, cards and baking. Jesus wasn't enough anymore.

I'd like to be able to say I have it all figured out–how to have the picture perfect Southern Living Christmas. All I know is that I was tired of the emptiness. I wanted the real meaning of the season to return.

Yesteryear-Circa 1995

I crashed and burned...threw in my Martha Stewart towel.

One thing I finally settled in my heart and that is...Jesus IS enough. He will always be enough for me.

This past Sunday and Monday night I was singing with my choir, the words to this song, "God With Us." They resonated so deeply with me..."Wonderful Counselor, never changing, never ending, beautiful, glorious, everlasting, ever living."

He has been all those things to me.

Our lives change from day to day, moment to moment. As I was writing this post, thinking about how my Christmases have changed through the years, yet, the One I sing about, and for, has never changed through eternity past, present or future. He is the same. He is beautiful, and He makes everything beautiful in His time, even a broken life. The beauty He cares about is not found in perfectly adorned homes but a heart that beats for Him.

So...you may come to my home through the Christmas season and I'll throw open my doors and welcome you. I may or may not have it perfectly decorated or have the most recent Pinterest recipes prepared and festively displayed, but I can promise you, Jesus will be celebrated. He will be the center of our Christmas. I will not let the world take away the most sacred Christian celebration.

It's time we get back to simple...Jesus is enough. After all, Christmas without Christ is mas and that spells nothing.

Have a blessed Christ filled Christmas!

Blessings from My Little Corner,
Cindy

Bailey's graduation last Friday night
Master's Degree in Education

The Unexpected Gift...The Sequel

After I post my blog each week, I usually go back sometime during the day and read it again, for the umpteenth time, for errors. No matter how many times I proof it before I hit publish, I miss something. Most of the time it's minor...but when I got to the end of last week's post I said out loud to myself, and the cat, "Cindy, you missed it. You missed a great message to share."

My heart was sad...

As I read the end of my post, "My gift is priceless, and one I'll remember for years to come, as well as the giver," it hit me...I didn't finish the thought.

I missed it...

If I were finishing the same post this week I might go on with something like this: In human terms, the Bible returned to me was priceless and unexpected, but the greatest gift ever given to mankind was Jesus.

He was the long awaited Messiah for the Hebrew people in biblical days, but He was the unexpected servant king, the upside down Savior of the world. He was not what they were looking for. His birth and entry into the world broke four hundred years of silence from a holy God who had never forgotten His people. His birth ushered in the missing link from the Old testament to the New, prophecy fulfilled.

God was waiting...waiting for time to reveal His plan of redemption. His own son, Jesus, would be the redeemer, the adopted son in the lineage of King David.

The shepherds were tending sheep out in the fields. Do you think they expected to see a heavenly host of angels singing about the birth of their Savior? Probably not.

If the kings of the east had expected this miraculous birth they would have left two years prior to be present for this spectacular event. They had the financial means and the power to make it happen.

Instead...

Jesus was given the lowliest of births as He quietly burst into human form...a baby, meek and mild. Unexpected, even by His birth mother. But oh, how she loved Him. She accepted all that was happening to her with grace and wonder. The Bible says she pondered all these things in her heart. Luke 2:19

As He grew, He found favor with God and man.

He did the unexpected. He healed diseases, turned water into wine, and washed feet.

He spoke to multitudes, not from a palace, but a hillside by the shores of the Galilee.

He wept with those who wept and mourned with those who mourned.

He proclaimed freedom for those in bondage.

When His days on earth were coming to a close, He chose to obey His Father...to be the ultimate sacrifice. He allowed Himself to be stripped, beaten, mocked, and humiliated, then hung on a tree to atone for my sin and your sin. He finally cried, "It is finished." And He died. At thirty three years old, He accomplished what He came to earth to do.

From the manger to the cross, His work was almost complete.

But that's not the end of the story because no one expected Him to come out of the tomb after He was dead. But He did. His Father in heaven raised Him from the dead on the third day. Over five hundred people saw Him alive and it's recorded for us to read today.

And just as I missed it last week when I wrote about my gift, many people in that day missed it too! They didn't believe until Jesus was raised from the dead and ascended to heaven after forty days. Even his half brother, James, missed it until after Jesus' ascension.

Some people are still looking for a savior. We look for it in material things, people, money, power, or fame. We can even look for it in ourselves. But the only Savior who was nailed to a cross for me, has come...Emmanuel...God with us!

And so...that's why the Bible my friend returned to me is so important. It's a reminder that God has been with me in the forty years we've been apart, even when I didn't realize it, He was there.

I'm so thankful for parents who were faithful to take me to church and teach me about Jesus. Because of my foundation, I came back after wandering away from my faith. He also reminded me that just as God did not forget His people in the four hundred years between the Old and New testament in the Bible, He did not forget me either. He has given complete healing from childhood wounds this past year, and for that I'm thankful.

Don't miss Him this Christmas...

O come let us adore Him...at Christmas and every day after!

But because of our sins He was wounded, beaten because of the evil we did.

We are healed by the punishment He suffered, made whole by the blows He received.

All of us were like sheep that were lost, each of us going his own way. 

But the Lord made the punishment fall on Him, the punishment all of us deserve.

Isaiah 53:5-6 GNT

Christmas Blessings from My Little Corner,
Cindy

What You May Not Know About Me...

I've been seeing these lists pop up on Facebook called "Things You May Not Know About Me." I'm not sure where it originated but thought I'd chime in with my list. I began mentally to compile my list and then sat down with pencil and paper and it was difficult. Having a blog, you put yourself out there in little, and big ways, I've discovered.

I decided to make mine in the form of a post and stop at five. As I said, it was difficult.

So here goes...

1. I won the "Miss Crisco Award" for Home Economics in 9th grade.

This photo covers #1, #2 and #3

2. My hair hasn't always been curly. Before 2005 it was straight as a stick. (Future post)

3. I was born with a space between my two front teeth. I wore braces as an adult due to some other issues with my teeth. Most of the women on my mom's side of the family have the space.

4. I have a teapot/teacup collection.

4.5 I'm running out of room due to my collections.

5. I've been to many countries around the world but home is still my favorite place. (That's probably not a secret)

We all want to be known don't we? We want to know somebody knows our name, knows our people, our history. We want to know we have significance in this world.

Ann Voskamp, author of "1000 Things" said something recently that I'll not quote for I would botch it. I'll paraphrase her words, but she was talking about being known. She said the most important one to be known by was the one who has our names engraved on the palms of His hands. He is the only one we should care about really knowing us.

I'm in West Virginia this weekend to see some of my people. Some of the very people who have known me since I was a little girl. I'm excited to see a girlfriend from high school and college and reminisce. I'll go to the cemetery and visit my parent's grave and have a chat. But I'm so thankful to be known by the One with my name engraved in the palms of His hands. I'm so thankful to be able to write and share my heart with you about Him, but at the end of the day, He is the One I want to please.

On the drive yesterday I got a call that my mother-in-law, Phyllis, had passed away. She was ready to go on to heaven. She had been fighting illness for some time now. She is in the presence of the One who engraved her name. If only she could shout back to earth and give witness, she would tell us to make Him known, not ourselves.

To be known by the world is good, I guess, but to be known by the MAKER of the world...well that's what you may not know about me.

Blessings from My Little Corner,
Cindy

The Prodigal Returns...The Rest of the Story

A few weeks ago I told you a story about how my cat, Bucky Boy, came to be a member of my family. Well, what I didn't tell you was there was more to the story. Can we say drama?!!

It all began when my cat Bonnie disappeared...

After about three weeks of life with my new kittens, (and did I mention we also had a chocolate lab named Abbie?) I was at our surveying office one Thursday morning doing payroll. My husband gets a phone call and leaves abruptly, not even explaining where he's going. An hour or more passes and he sticks his head in the front door and asks me to come out on the porch. He says there's someone who wants to see me. When I walk out onto the porch, the first thing I see is a skinny, frightened, black cat, that is, no doubt, my Bonnie.

Tears of joy and happiness begin to flow unashamedly. She is covered in filth and the odor is almost more than I can bear, but it's my sweet Bonnie and at that moment, it doesn't matter. I hold her close to me while my tears soak into her fur. She is terrified though and as much I know she is happy to see me, the past three weeks have taken their toll. Her little body is shaking and as she tries pulling away from me, I want her to understand she's safe now.

Bonnie

My prodigal had returned dirty, scared and hungry. I didn't scold her for being gone. I lavished all the love I had to give on her. I whispered sweet words in her ears of how much she was missed. I gave her the best food I could buy filled with nutrients to put meat back on her bones. After I'd regained her trust, I washed away the filth of her wandering ways. She couldn't do it herself, there were places she couldn't reach. It took awhile for the sparkle to return in her eyes and she eventually learned to trust again.

Yes, she was just a cat but isn't that the picture the Bible paints of a loving God ... a God who runs to meet His wayward child. He doesn't care what we've done, how bad we smell from the stench of the world. He just wants to lavish His great love on us. He can cleanse us from the inside out ... reach those places of hurt and pain that we could never reach in our humanity.  He wants to feed us with the Bread of Life so we'll never be hungry for anything this world has to offer. He will clothe us with His righteousness for we are royalty when we belong to Him. He longs to embrace us and whisper His great love for us ... His unfailing love.

Do you have a prodigal in your family? Maybe they desperately want to come home but need to know they will be welcomed with open arms, no questions asked. Show them the love of Christ. They could be trapped in a situation beyond their control and can't make it home. God still answers prayers. Don't give up on your prodigal. As long as they're on this side of heaven, hope is alive.

Maybe you are the prodigal and need courage to go home. I've been a prodigal and can tell you there is nothing like being wrapped in the embrace of a loving God. He will welcome you home and never leave you. Your family will probably do the same.

My prodigal was happy to be home ... not so happy about the newest family members. And where had she been for three weeks? She'd been trapped under our neighbors house. The call my husband received was from the neighbor. You never know what a day will bring.

"So he got up and went to his father. But while he was still a long way off, 

his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him;

he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him."

Luke 15:20 NIV

Blessings from My Little Corner,
Cindy

Fun In The Son...Beach Reflections

We often think of the beach as a place of sunshine, laughter and warmth. And while all those things are true, sometimes, it's a place of reflection and quiet ... a place of solitude.

I've had one of those kinds of respites recently. The first part of my week I was totally alone ... except for  the One above who loves me unconditionally. I spent my days deep in His Word, hungry for Him to feed me, to fill me with Himself.

I needed Him to chase away the demons of doubt, fear and discouragement that would seek to devour me. And He was there. He carried me to the foot of the cross and reminded me of His nearness, of His very Presence.

I'm so thankful for the time of finding Him ... of hearing His voice.

He will meet you wherever you are in your deepest need. You don't even have to go anywhere to find Him, He's a breath away. Just whisper His name ... Jesus. He longs to hear His creation cry out. If we don't do it, the Bible says the rocks will cry out.

The end of my week was different than when it began. As His words and His Presence began to fill my heart, my countenance lifted. My husband arrived and then later in the week, old and dear friends came to visit as well.

I needed the time for writing, reflection and study. I needed to hear Him speak and sometimes God can only do that when He has us all to Himself. How does He speak to You? Do you allow Him uninterrupted time to be alone with you?

My encouragement to you would be to give Him access, even if it's only a few minutes a day. It's a beginning. He is so worthy of your sacrifice of time and effort. He will multiply your minutes and give you peace in your place of deepest need.

But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

Luke 5:16 NIV

If Jesus Himself needed to withdraw to a quiet place to seek His Father, how much more do we, His children, need to seek Him from a place of stillness?

Don't be afraid of solitude, it can be your best friend in the midst of life's trials. Allow it to lead you to the One who can still your soul and bring peace to calm the storm.

Blessings from My Little Corner,
Cindy

Birthday Ponderings...Chosen To Be Loved

I went for a pedicure this week. It just happened to be the day after my birthday and I was sharing a story with my technician about a birthday of several years ago...actually a double gift.

My cat, Bonnie, had disappeared and I was in deep mourning for I loved my cat, as I have loved every cat since my first at the age of 12. My husband said, "why don't you go the the animal shelter and pick out a kitten for your birthday." Well, I thought this to be a splendid idea. It would help me through the grieving process of losing Bonnie.

So, I ventured down to the local animal shelter and wandered the aisles till my eyes fell upon a cage with TWO pair of eyes staring back at me. They screamed, "take US home with you." Well what's a girl to do but oblige? We took care of the necessary paperwork and the next day I returned to pick up my two new family members.

Sweet "Bucky Boy"

My husband was very understanding for he knows my tender heart. That was 13 years ago and one of them is still living. My "Bucky Boy" is the sweetest, most lovable cat I've ever had. It's as though he knew I rescued him from certain death...I chose him.

I was chosen too, before the foundation of the world was laid. (Eph 1:4) I was chosen to know the one true God, but I lived my life wanting to be chosen for all the wrong reasons. It wasn't until I came to realize my worth was not in what I thought of myself, but what He says OF me and ABOUT me that my perspective changed.

He also says in Psalm 139:16: All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. So not only did He choose me, but He wrote out my days in a book...my story. How deeply personal is that? Can any other religion even come close? I think not. It can't because it's a relationship between me, a human, and a holy God.

He chose you too! If you're breathing and moving about on planet Earth He wants to write an ending to your story in His book...The Book of Life.

For God so loved the world

that He gave His one and only Son

that whoever believes in Him

shall not perish 

but have eternal life.

John 3:16

Read it with new eyes...as if you've never read it before. Christ can give you eternal life. My cat is going to die someday and I will miss him terribly....I certainly wouldn't give my life for him even though I chose him.

The One who chose me DID give His life for me...and you! I've received many gifts and celebrated many birthdays since, but none will ever equal the gift I received in His Son. Maybe today is your day to add a new name to the book, The Book of Life, real life, abundant life!

Blessings from My Little Corner,
Cindy

The Purpose Driven Fisherman

.

The Fisherman

I know I've written about my husband the Turkey Hunter...well, now I'd like to introduce you to my husband The Fisherman. Yes, they are one and the same. Now that turkey season has concluded in the state of South Carolina we can go back to normal living. I can sleep till 6:00 a.m. No more waking at 4:30 or 5:00 a.m. so he can be in the woods before the birds descend from the trees. You might ask, "why don't you just go back to sleep?" Well, that's like telling the sun not to come up in the east...and that's not gonna happen.

My "to do" list has gotten kind of long but his "catch up on trout fishin" plans have kinda trumped my "to do" list right outa the proverbial water. All joking aside, he's a good fisherman, I mean a REALLY good fisherman. He's got one fishing buddy that's been missing him during turkey season and I think they're making big plans so I may never get that list done.

You know if you're gonna catch any fish you have to go fishing. You have to prepare yourself, take the right bait and go to the best fishin' hole. Sometimes you put your line in and catch something right away and sometimes you have to be patient until just the right fish comes along. If the fish aren't biting you move along to another hole where they're a little more eager to take your bait. As my husband was just telling me, sometimes you have to change the bait. You have to figure out what will get their attention, what will get them to bite the hook. The idea is to catch fish, get them on the line, and reel them in.

Jesus taught is parables to a bunch of rugged fishermen. He taught them in stories they could understand. If we want to be fishers of men, women and children we have to be willing to prepare ourselves by becoming students of the Word, immersing ourselves in the knowledge of how to be better at our trade. We must use the right bait, and that can look differently depending on what kind of fish we're trying to catch. If it's a baby fish it might be a new playground that attracts young families that says, "we love children and we care about young families." Let's say we're trying to catch a college/career aged fish we might put a coffee shop in our new building where they can meet to socialize and study.

And finally, we have to go to where the people are. That may be across town to the homeless shelter or to the local women's shelter. It may be through the children, youth, or senior adult ministry or it may be across the world in another country. We have to put our line in the water and use our knowledge, skill, and bait, but it's up to the Lord to reel them in. He just wants a willing fisherman or woman.

So, my list is growing. Let's see, when is fishing season over? Oh no, there is no season on fishing!!!

And so it is in the Kingdom of God!

The season for being "fishers of men" is open 24/7, year round, no license is necessary except the one that gets you into the only Kingdom that matters.



Happy Fishing!
Cindy

Sheep of His Pasture

Once upon a time when I was a young wife living in the hills of West Virginia in a little log cabin, my father-in-law brought me two lambs and I became their surrogate momma.

Baby Lucy

He'd been in the mountains turkey hunting and one of the neighbors where he hunted was a sheep farmer. Bronson could be an intimidating man but he loved animals so he stopped to look at the new lambs. The mother of the lambs had died so he must have thought to himself, "I'll take these little lambs to Cindy, she can't have babies of her own, this is the next best thing" ...they did have to be bottle fed, after all. He was a man's man, but he did have a soft spot for me and I know this was an act of love. I was thrilled for I love animals too!

I began mixing formula and getting my babies on a schedule. I was in heaven until one of them died. I was grief stricken. I couldn't even
keep a baby lamb alive. I pulled myself together and vowed that the remaining lamb would live. I named her Lucy, after my grandmother(she was honored). Since lambs have to eat like babies, with a bottle and nipple, we bonded very quickly. She grew and flourished and eventually moved to other foods but our bond was cemented.

Our little log house sat on thirty acres and we didn't keep her in the fence all the time so she would wander down to the house. If I had the windows open and she could hear my voice, she would follow the sound of my voice from window to window. It was the sweetest thing...by now you know where I'm going with this.

"My sheep hear My voice, and I know them and they follow Me." John 10:27 NASB

Last summer, I clearly heard His voice telling me to "Be still and know Him." So...I gave up some responsibilities so I could do just that. I've been "busy" in the church for most of my life and though I know Him, He wants me to REALLY know Him, intimately like no other. Everything I've read or studied since last summer goes back to, "Be still and know Me." I want to know Him so well that no matter where I am or what I'm doing I will go from window to window just to catch a glimpse of Him. I want to look for Him in the everyday, ordinary things.

They say sheep are very dumb, and that may be. I'd rather be the dumbest sheep in the pasture than the most brilliant scientist on the planet that has just discovered the serum that would cure every disease known to mankind, if that brilliance kept me from the simplicity of the gospel.

I learned so much from my adventures with Lucy and her offspring. She gave birth to Desi and then twins the next spring. The parables in the Bible came alive for me during this time. Sheep are defenseless and need a shepherd to guide them. They are easy prey for wild animals and easily led astray to greener pastures.

We are much like sheep...we too are easy prey for evil attacks but there is so much more at stake. We want to go our own way, and many times find ourselves in what we thought were greener pastures. 

Lucy with her twins
Desi in the background

But, the good news is if we'll listen to the sound of the Shepherd's voice, He will guide us and lead us. One of the most quoted passages of scripture in the Bible is also the most comforting, and pictures the Lord as our Shepherd and we, the sheep of His pasture.

The Lord is my Shepherd I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Psalm 23:1-3 NIV



Isn't that reassuring? Then, when we get quiet and still before Him, He speaks.

Have a blessed day,
Cindy

Sweetest Name I Know

Jesus...it really is the sweetest name I know. Just the mention of His name brings me peace and comfort. But, around the world this may not be the case. The mention of His name can cause friction and upset many people. Speaking His name may land you in jail in many countries or even death as a martyr for the cause of Christ. He is cursed and His image is spat upon while those Who love Him are comforted and find great joy at the sound of His name...two opposing views for a man Who walked the face of this earth more than 2000 years ago and spoke of the greatest Love ever given.

As we've been leading up to the celebration of this holy Easter weekend my Pastor has asked us to consider the fact that we are not our own and I have been pondering that for weeks now. What does that mean for me personally? What does that look like? How do we communicate that to a world that is driven by selfish ambition?

We've all heard the Easter story since we were children but when you really study it with "new eyes" and contemplate it and realize what Jesus went through in the garden before He was crucified...it was so excruciating that He sweat drops of blood. He was all man and all God so He knew what was coming and knew His Father would have to forsake Him...what agony. It was so much more than the physical pain He would endure and He did it willingly. Can you imagine the humiliation and degradation of leaving Heaven's glory to come to Earth to take on all the sin and filth past, present, and future of every human ever to be born? Every rapist, murderer, child molester, liar, thief, adulterer, gossiper, back stabber, yes, now we're getting down to the every day man and woman like you and me. As He prayed in the garden,"Father, if it be Your will take this cup from me; yet not my will but Yours be done," that was His moment where it was all settled.

They didn't take His life, He gave it willingly. There is a HUGE difference. So...when I give my life to Christ it is no longer mine, I give it willingly, it is not my own. It was bought with an extremely high price...the blood of the ONLY lamb Who could atone for my sin or yours or anyone who ever takes a breath on planet Earth. We can whine and complain, and I've done my share, till the end of time about our rights but that won't change the facts of what Jesus did at Calvary and one day the Bible says in Philippians 2:10, That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. NIV

When I look at it like that, I'm happy to give myself to Him. Anyone Who would give themselves for me like that, loves me with a love that is unconditional. After all, He created me in the first place. Doesn't it stand to reason that He would have a plan to redeem His creation...the very ones He placed in the original garden? Therefore, I am happy to give Him my entire life, for He is trustworthy and faithful. He has proven Himself over and over to me.

For me, it goes back to Jesus in the garden when He prayed "not My will but Yours"...I want this to be the cry of my heart. Not my will but Yours.

Have a blessed Easter,
Cindy

The Package

I went to my mailbox one day this week and there was a package stuffed inside. I pried it out, excited to see who the sender might be. I immediately recognized the return name and address and tore it open.

Inside the package was a note from a dear friend and a lovely gift of tea. She simply said she'd been reading my blog, saw the tea and thought of me.

It goes much deeper than that. She is a person who has spent her life investing in people. I began to reminisce, and as I often do, took a walk down memory lane.

I'm going to use her first name, I don't think she'd mind. Kit began a Bible study for women in her home when my children were very young. Andy had just started preschool and Bailey was still at home. There were several young mothers like me but some older women came as well. What a wonderful mixture of women to come together once a week to study the scriptures. Kit opened her home showing hospitality through the serving of tea and baking of homemade breads and cakes. She poured her life into ours, loving us as Christ loves His Church. She mentored that little group of women until God called her and her husband to a larger ministry in another country.

That package triggered thoughts of my own spiritual journey and Kit's investment in my life. Just as she poured tea and the Bread of Life into me each week, it made me think, am I pouring myself into others? Am I investing myself in people instead of wasting it in things that are temporal?

We all tend to be selfish at times but real joy comes from investing in others. John 15:16-17 says: You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit...fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other.

I think Kit has loved well. I am one of her fruit and I know many others who would say the same. She continues to bear fruit long after she has moved away. My children come behind me and they are the fruit of her as well. Who will you invest yourself in today?


Cindy