The sun is almost setting on 2009 - We made it.

It's the end of 2009 and I am on my last 3 chapters of Revelations. I did it! There were times I wanted to quit, but because I have this blog and a few people actually read it I have hung in there. I am ready to start all over tomorrow because I have learned and grown and been challenged by God as I saw new and different things as I read familiar stories.
His word is fresh and new every day, so as 2010 starts tomorrow, I look forward to new things from God. I pray for new and wonderful adventures for you too.
Happy New Year!
I almost forgot, This is Michelle's tattoo in honor of Dad Sharpe. She got it on the 19th of December 2009, the first anniversary of Dad's death. We still miss you Wes, you have left an amazing legacy in your grandchildren. Thank you.

Siblings

Ezekiel was tough and long, but I am moving on and catching up. Today, the obvious was an epiphany. I was reading I John and he is speaking about being children of God. I John 3:2 brought the "Aha" moment. No wonder, that as Christians, we have so many denominations and such a hard time getting along. We are siblings, spiritually.

I know there are some families that always get along, where sibling disputes are not a big deal. I married into one, but I wasn't raised in one. While we didn't fight much, we didn't engage much either. We were almost indifferent to each other, but we loved each other. Then Dad died and the garbage was dumped. Like all garbage, it stank for a time. We all handled our grief differently. Some of us more positively than others. My only sister, the baby of the family, became my rock.
This isn't my best shot, but my sister, Marianne, looks great. For years we had no relationship at all and now I don't know how I made it all that time without her love and support. We are family and I am so glad.
On the other hand there is a brother I am not so close to anymore. Family history has crowded in and brought separation. I still love him, but we seem to get along better from a distance.
There is an old saying, "You can't choose your family." It's true both physically and spiritually, but while we can't choose who they are, we can choose to love them.
Whether it is hard or not, love is a choice. I know my sister feels it was worth it to make the choice to love me, and pursue a relationship with me. It was a conscious decision on her part after a conversation with our hair dresser. (Thank you Linda Renay).
There are people in my life, through church and other Christian arenas, that are not as easy to love as others, but I am going to make the effort for them that my sister made for me. They are family too. We all share one Heavenly Father, and that alone makes them worth it.

Reading Jeremiah is tough

It took me much longer than planned, but I did get through Jeremiah. I just thought I would state for the record; I am still at it.
II Peter is much easier to read and I get it, but the thing that is sticking in my mind is a comment from Gary Thomas this past weekend.
He was speaking at a couples conference at the Broadmoor, and he said something that I can't get out of my head. It came to him one day that he married God's daughter and he didn't want to get on God's bad side so he was going be sure he treated her accordingly. 

I love that. It applies to all of us, so how do we speak to each other? It turns out, once again, that I see my Daddy's wisdom in the most basic things of life. He always used to say that we should treat everyone with respect and that, "everyone we come in contact with should be comfortable in our presence, whether she be the Queen of England or the drunk on Skid Row." God took the time to create him or her and for that reason alone, he is worthy of honor and respect. You were right Dad.
"...but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." II Peter 3:18

General stuff

I have had a tough time keeping up with blogging and reading while learning to be a family of six, but when Steve took off for Israel I took a vacation.
I am back because Steve is back. His trip was life changing and I am loving his stories.
I finished Isaiah last week and it was a different read this time. In the past as I have read it I have seen an angry vengeful God. This time I saw a broken hearted Father. Take a week and read it slowly with that perspective, and have a great week.

This one's for Steve

Our lifestyle is Biblical, annoying, but Biblical.
I am still reading through the Bible. On December 31st I will declare victory, and hopefully start all over again.
Today, James 4:13 & 14 hit me square between the eyes. "Now listen, you who say, 'Today or tomorrow, we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.' Why you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes, Instead, you ought to say, 'If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that.'"
We have been living that way since 1978. I got a lung infection in the Willamette Valley, and then later, while living in Hawaii, my lungs were further damaged by the volcanos.
Chemicals set off asthma, and while we know some of the offending chemicals, others remain a mystery. We never know what or when my asthma will be triggered. This has made public places scary. Perfumes and colognes are usually good for an attack. We gave up on back to school nights after Steve had to pick me up of the sidewalk, literally. We hadn't even gotten inside and the perfume was overwhelming.
I am often reminded of Pigpen from the Peanuts cartoons. A puffy cloud of filth followed him where ever he went. Why do women, (and some men) think it is okay to have a huge, pink, puffy cloud of perfume follow in their wake?
Anyway, back to the verse. Because I have no idea when my asthma will be triggered, planning to do things has become a source of frustration. Too many times we have gone somewhere, only to have to get back in the car, (often after I hit the floor, use the inhaler and an epi-pen) and head back home.
It has become so ingrained in our lifestyle that we rarely plan anything, and when we do, we always have Plan B. We even built a house last year, that is safe for me. Special paint, finishes and other details made it possible and I am so grateful.
It would be nice to plan a vacation and go. It's been a while.
I love you Sweeton.

The Absent Are Safe Here

The first time I read, "The Absent Are Safe Here" I thought about it for a week before I understood what it meant. Are the absent safe with me? Do I respect people behind their back, or do I dishonor them when they aren't around?
Pastor Kelly was talking about that on Sunday, well, that's how I applied it. He was encouraging us to pursue godliness, constantly, continuously, every day, without giving up. I think that includes our conversations with each other.
Even those inward, mental dialogues we have need to be measured in the light of godliness. You know the ones; repeating over and over what she said that hurt me, or what he did that was just so wrong. What should I have said? What could I have done to put her in her place?
Have you ever used the perfect comeback and then regretted it? Have you seen the pain on the face of the intended recipient and then felt like a worm?
There are no regrets when we know we have done that which pleases our Heavenly Father. There is no worminess when we hold our tongue, refusing to become the weapon of the enemy.
"So then let us pursue the things which make for peace and the building up of one another."Romans 14:19

The Challenge

I got bored so I changed things up a bit. This picture is of the beach in St. Andrew's, Scotland, just off the golf course. The opening scene to Chariots of Fire was filmed here, and when we walked on it I swear I could hear the orchestra.
There is something magical about a quiet morning by my window; the steam rises from my tea cup, the flowers are in bloom, and my Bible is open on my lap. I generally prefer a good sleep-in, but this is deeply good.
I am still up to date on reading through the Bible this year! Amazing, truly amazing. With major changes in my life this summer I have managed to keep up. I miss some days and have more to read, and some days are harder than others because I don't always like what I read, but I am pressing on toward the goal.
This week I read an old favorite and was challenged in a surprising way. I have this verse colored with light red pencil and there are notes next to it. I go to it often because it reminds me that I am loved with a divine love. I am precious.

 "I will give thanks to Thee, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; 
Wonderful are Thy works, 
And my soul knows it very well." Psalm 139:14


This time, as I read it, in my minds eye I had a picture of a woman I never want to see again. She didn't just hurt me, she did so deliberately, with great planning, care and painful consequences. She was reading the same verse, and finding the same peace and comfort that I receive. It surprised me and then I heard the Lord ask me, "Is this verse true for her too?"
Wow and ick.
He did make her too. She was formed in her mother's womb with the same love care as I was. I should be spiritual enough to rejoice, but I am ashamed to say that I am disappointed. I can pray the part about being fearfully and wonderfully made for her, but the thanks for her still sticks in my throat. I am working on it.
Funny how, after all these years, the same verse that has brought me so much comfort, brings conviction. God's word is alive and still challenges me. It's a good thing; hard, but good.