Spiritual Lessons from Trees – Arbor Day

April 29^th is Arbor Day – a celebration that encourages appreciations and the ongoing care of trees. Founded by J. Sterling Morton in 1872, it's celebrated on the last Friday in April.

   I love looking at trees. Currently in Ohio they are bursting with spring green colors. Even their trunks have personality - with ridges and grooves shouting out their individuality. I love their silhouettes in winter, gently holding empty bird nests as symbols of hope and new life to come. See my post on this here:  

Trees are symbolic of so much of our spirituality:  Being deeply rooted in God.  Anchored in His love, we sway in the winds of change and storms of life.

One of my current verses I am memorizing this year is:

Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. Ephesians 3:17 (New Living Translation)

God must really love trees – the world is full of them and so is the Bible from the garden of Eden to the Cross where Jesus died to Bible stories about Zacchaeus climbing a tree to the symbolism of faith as the size of a mustard seed.

Jesus tells us that a tree is recognized by its fruit. A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. We are very much like trees. People recognize us by the fruit we produce. If we are producing the fruit of kindness or joy, then people will recognize us by that fruit.

Native North Americans call trees  “our standing brothers and sisters.” Human and trees share an upright, vertical orientation. We walk; they stand. We move and change our location all the time – they remain in the quiet of their being.  Quite another spiritual lesson.

The Tree of Life serves as the image for the whole universe. Many cultures believe trees symbolize the interconnectiveness and sacredness of life.

A few years ago my hubby and I visited the giant redwood Sequoias in California. Some of these trees are more than 2700 years old. Laurinda Reynolds, a native American story teller shared this traditional teaching story about the redwoods:

“It’s all a part of growing in balance. We grow in balance above and below and we balance the outside with inside. We grow in balance with time, too.

Today, we use what we prepared yesterday, last season, even during the past year.

Today we prepare for tomorrow, for the next season and even the years to come.  We balance the past and the future by what we are doing in the present moment.”

What lessons do trees teach you on your spiritual journey?

God Knows Our Name – A Resurrection Story

I spent part of Easter afternoon rereading the accounts of Easter and Jesus’ resurrection.

One of my favorite stories is the encounter of Mary Magdalene with the risen Christ.

 “‘Woman,’ he said, ‘why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?’

Thinking he was the gardener, she said, ‘Sir, if you have carried him away,

tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.’

Jesus said to her, ‘Mary.’”   (John 20:15-16a)

I think one of greatest fears is being unknown and just think God, who created the entire universe and Jesus, who came to earth to be close to us, to die for us – knows our name. 

What intimacy! The sound of our names spoken from the lips of our Savior is the nearness that opens our eyes, dries our tears, and mends our devastated hearts. Jesus knows us so well, our names are carved in the palms of His hands. He draws us so close that we can hear the heartbeat of His love.

Ron Rolheiser has a powerful reflection of these Bible verses on You Tube, titled “What are you looking for?” Take a minute to listen to this message here

My every need disappears, my ego-driven wants evaporate, and my self-centeredness dissipates in the powerful moment of God says my name in love.  He knows our names!  Divine tenderness beyond our comprehension!

“Who is it you are looking for?”

Easter Morning

Good Friday Quote

Ponder today what God has done for us:

Good Friday is the mirror held up by Jesus so that we can see ourselves in all our stark reality, and then it turns us to that cross and to his eyes and we hear these words, "Father forgive them for they know not what they do." 

That's us! 

And so we know beyond a shadow of a doubt that if we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves. We see in that cross a love so amazing so divine that it loves us even when we turn away from it, or spurn it, or crucify it. There is no faith in Jesus without understanding that on the cross we see into the heart of God and find it filled with mercy for the sinner whoever he or she may be.

Robert G. Trache

"God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son."

- John 3:16

  

Holy Week Thoughts - Keeping My Eyes on the Big Picture

“Keep your eyes on the big picture,” was the advice I heard a pastor say this week. I needed that reminder.

This has NOT been a pleasant week for me. When the life gets complicated, schedules and plans shred apart, and too many commitments spill out from my too little time, my survivor mode kicks in. I withdraw into self-pity, self-centeredness, and lots of whiny “why me” self-talk.

Not the way I really want to live and to be honest I don’t think the way God wants us to live either.  I cling to my self-centeredness instead of dwelling in Christ-centeredness.

My episode of feeling sorry for myself pales in comparison to what Jesus suffered the week before His crucifixion. His threshold point in the Garden, giving up His will into God’s hands, reminds me that Jesus too kept His eyes on the big picture.

Jesus didn’t hang onto self-pity; He clung to Love.

Jesus said not my will, but God’s.

Jesus knew to keep His eyes on the big picture  - God.

God is the big picture. With God’s perspective, we focus on love, life and living, not self-accomplishments, personal priorities, and my what’s in it for me mentality. 

I know I will face bad days again, but I need to let go of my hurt ego and look up to God, keeping my eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith (Hebrew 12:2). 

Reminds me of a Corrie ten Boom saying:

When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don't throw away the ticket and jump off. You sit still and trust the engineer.

So I will trade in my self-pity for trust in God and rest in His love.

I will continuously pray – Your will, not mine.

I hope I will focus more on Him, the big picture from now on (or at least until I forget again and need a gentle reminder.)

And I will pray this Holy Week and every week, for the Lord to open my eyes and help me see what really matters – His Big Picture.

Life Questions – Max on Life by Max Lucado - Book Review

We all struggle with life’s questions: Why am I here? How is God’s love different from human love? How do I know what is the right thing to do?

I fully believe that delving to the depths of these questions is part of our spiritual formation process.

One of my favorite writers – Max Lucado – has written a new book: Max on Life – Answers and Insights to your Most Important Questions.  I am received this book in exchange for posting a review but this has not influence my feelings about this book.

Lucado tackles some of life’s most difficult questions and provides concise and compassionate answers. This is what I both like and dislike about this book. Most of his answers are one page long – too short to really go into much depth.

But again Lucado’s brief answers are full of wisdom, easy to digest, and provide much food for thought. None of us have the complete answer to most of these questions and Lucado gives us nuggets of truth to at least take the next step in our faith walk.

My most favorite section of the book, though, is the appendix for writers, full of encouragement and inspiration.

“Good words are worth the work. Well-written words can change a life Words go where we never go. Africa, Australia, Indonesia…Written words go to places you’ll never go and descent to depths you’ll never know.”

This book would be a great addition to a small group or individual journey. I recommend it.

 

  

Insomnia and Restlessness – Lectio Divina

Too much activity gives you restless dreams; too many words make you a fool.   Ecclesiastes 5:3 NLT

Too much activity gives you restless dreams.

Lord I can’t sleep.  

Or rather I go to sleep, then wake up.

My mind races with items left undone.

My heart echoes with voices that demand, “Do, do, do!”

My nerves fidget and frazzle, taut between yesterday and tomorrow.

I focus more on the night’s shadows than Your light’s guidance.

Too much activity results in restless dreams.

I fill my time with jagged emptiness instead of creating space for You.

When I do pause and turn my heart to You,

Once again You gently tell me to rest, rest in You.

Your soothing whisper quiets the noise in my soul

Your arms enfold me and I snuggle into peaceful slumber.

Rest.

Peace

Quiet

And at last sleep.

Palm Sunday Quote of the Week

PALM SUNDAY QUOTE OF THE WEEK

But everyone who lined the streets had a different reason for waving those palms.

Some were political activists; they'd heard Jesus had supernatural power, and they wanted him to use it to free Israel from Roman rule.

Others had loved ones who were sick or dying. They waved branches, hoping for physical healing.

Some were onlookers merely looking for something to do, while others were genuine followers who wished Jesus would establish himself as an earthly king.

Jesus was the only one in the parade who knew why he was going to Jerusalem - to die.

He had a mission, while everyone else had an agenda.

Bill Hybels

Spiritual Infrastructure

For the past year as we travel south on State Route 49 from my little town in northwest Ohio, we have been fascinated to watch a massive construction project. Horizon Wind Energy are in the midst of a $1 billion plan to build hundreds of wind turbines in Paulding and Van Wert counties.

New roads have been built and tons of dirt moved. The site involves more than 5700 acres on both sides of the state highway. 

The turbines will be either a 256-foot tower for a total height to the top of the blades of 398 feet, or a 328-foot tower for a total height of 476 feet. Each nacelle or the structure at the top of the turbine, weighs 85 tons.

This project has been going on for years – the forming of the idea, researching the best sites, holding public meetings, arranging financing and that was before any dirt was moved.

When we drove past the site last week we could tell foundations had been laid and a few of the central towers were being raised. We passes trucks delivering enormous white poles and huge larger than can be imagine blades. I read that each foundation uses about 50 truck- loads of concrete and 45 tons of steel rebar.

Takes much patience and foresight to create the infrastructure to build something this big and important.

Thank heavens that God, as Creator and Artist, also has endless patience and wisdom in building our spiritual infrastructure. If it were me, I would have given up on myself a long time ago.

But God keeps molding, and crafting His masterpieces until our spiritual infrastructure is just right. His plans know exactly where, when and how we will turn out. He moves the dirt and pours His love into us creating strong foundations.

I have shared this C. S. Lewis quote in the past, but it fits so well in today’s post:

Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on: you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of — throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were going to be made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.

I am certainly grateful God is the One in charge. “Please be Patient – God is not done with me yet.” He is still working on my spiritual infrastructure and that may take a very long time.

Lent Color of Choice – Purple

I love spring. My eyes feast on the fresh new burst of colors.

One color that particularly stands out to me this year is purple.

Purple crocuses.

Purple hyacinths.

Purple cloths on the church altars.

 

Purple is a color with much symbolism.

I graduated with my nursing degree from Capital University in Columbus. The school colors were purple and white. Yes - our uniforms were a solid purple with white collars. We looked like a bunch of grapes when we rode in an elevator all squished together.

But our dean would tell us – “Purple is the color of royalty.”

Yes she was right. Historically, purple dye has been the most expensive and most labor-intensive color to obtain. But we aren’t the royalty – Jesus is. That is the reason why purple is the color of Lent.

Purple can symbolize both the pain and suffering leading up to the crucifixion of Jesus as well as the suffering of humanity and the world under sin. The Bible tells us that Pilate and his soldiers placed a purple robe on Jesus, just before His crucifixion. (Mark 15:16-20) "...they put on Him a purple robe. Then they said, Hail, King of the Jews!" (John 19:1-5)

But since purple is also the color of royalty, it reminds us of Jesus’ resurrection and hope of newness that will be celebrated on Easter Sunday. Jesus is our King, our royal King.

Research tells us that the color purple represents the balance of red simulation and blue calm. In stained glass the color purple or violet are seen as the uniting of the "wisdom" of blue and the "love" of red and symbolizes justice. Purple affects us mentally and physically with emotions that are uplifting and calming and often gives a sense of spirituality.

Purple has never been a favorite color of mine, but I feel its invitation this spring. I find myself noticing its hues everywhere and I pause.

“Come and listen to my story,” says Purple, “a tale of pain and feeling abandoned by God with am amazing and surprising ending. The story of the resurrection of our Savior and King.”

We rejected our King, our Savior in this purple account and mocked Him while He suffered and died for us.

Jesus rescued the color purple from the pits of sin, anguish, and despair and transformed it into a royal and majestic color. 

Thank you, Jesus, for doing the same for us. 

Yes, Lord I Do Believe – Lectio Divina

On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. Now Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.

 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died.  But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”

 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”

 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;  and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

“Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.”  John 11: 17-27.

“Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.” 

Yes, Lord, I believe.

Much of my prayers this week have been wordless.

I sit at Your feet, resting my head in Your lap.

Just You and me, being together.

Most mornings, I yak and hog most of the conversation, Lord.

I present my litany of requests and with more than a little self-righteousness, name others who need Your wisdom and healing.

But this week, we just sat together and enjoy the silence.

I only could murmur, “Yes Lord, I believe.”

I thank You that You listen when I talk too much.

I am grateful that Your patience exceeds my whiny requests.

But words disappear when I ponder Who You really are and what You did for all of us.

My only words:

Yes Lord, I do believe that You are the Messiah, the Son of God.

A Bike Ride with God - A New Adventure

I wrote a post last Thursday about the phrase I heard “Fun stories happen when you make choices you wouldn’t normally make.”  It reminded me of this story which is the quote of the week.

I used to think of God as my observer, my judge, keeping track of the things I did wrong, so as to know whether I merited heaven or hell when I die. He was out there, sort of like a president. I recognized His picture when I saw it, but I didn't really know Him.

But later on, when I met Jesus, it seemed as though life was rather like a bike, but it was a tandem bike, and I noticed that Jesus was in the back helping me pedal.

I didn't know just when it was He suggested we change, but life has not been the same since I took the back-seat to Jesus, my Lord. He makes life exciting. When I had control, I thought I knew the way. It was rather boring, but predictable. It was the shortest distance between two points.

But when He took the lead, He knew delightful long cuts, up mountains, and through rocky places and at break-through speeds; it was all I could do to hang on! Even though it often looked like madness, He said, "Pedal!"

I was worried and anxious and asked, "Where are you taking me?" He laughed and didn't answer and I started to learn to trust. I forgot my boring life and entered into adventure. And when I'd say, "I'm scared", He'd lean back and touch my hand.

He took me to people with gifts that I needed, gifts of healing, acceptance and joy. They gave me their gifts to take on my journey, our journey, my Lord's and mine. And we were off again. He said, "Give the gifts away; they're extra baggage, too much weight." So I did, to the people we met, and I found in giving I received, and still our burden was light.

I did not trust Him, at first, in control of my life. I thought He'd wreck it, but He knows bike secrets, knows how to make it bend to take sharp corners, jump to clear high rocks, fly to shorten scary passages. And I am learning to shut up and pedal in the strangest places, and I'm beginning to enjoy the view and the cool breeze on my face with my delightful constant companion, Jesus.

And when I'm sure I just can't do any more, He just smiles and says... "Pedal."

(Author unknown)

Following God’s Invitation to Adventure

I almost missed God’s invitation last week.

I am a planner. Not only do I set quarterly goals, but have five year and ten year dreams written down.

I focus on doing. I am a “three” on the Enneagram – yes, I am driven by accomplishment. I thrill at checking off items on my endless to-do list.

So I felt very threatened last week when listening to NPR radio story. I have learned when words or phrases echo in my soul and resonate in my heart to pay attention. God is inviting me to ponder something.

So I listen carefully last week. I was not sure why the words resounded deep within me but I certainly knew they were not what I normally practiced.

The NPR story was about a man names Todd Bieber who went for a walk after a winter storm in New York last December. Much to his surprise, he looked down and found a canister of film.

He almost threw it back into the snow when he remembered something a friend once said to him. This is the line that reverberated in my spirit.

“Fun stories happen when you make choices you wouldn't normally make.”

I couldn’t stop thinking about that line. Once home I looked up the story on NPR to hear it again. And it still lingered in my thoughts.

By the way to read about the rest of Todd’s story and how this one moment in time finding a lost film canister ended up taking him across the world and meeting all sorts of new friends, listen here.  Yes fun stories did happen for him.

What was God telling me in this strange line: “Fun stories happen when you make choices you wouldn't normally make.”

Was it the word ‘fun’ that I didn’t like? Did I arrogantly think that having ‘fun’ was too shallow, too unproductive, too immature?

Is it safe to “make choices you don’t normally make?” Wouldn’t I be vulnerable outside of my comfort zone?

The more I prayed and contemplated these odd words, the more I realized I have been so focused on the future – getting things done – that I was missing present adventures with God. I concentrated so hard to keep the walls up surrounding my comfort zone, I no longer could see my Comforter.

So I am loosening the grip I have on my beloved to-do list. Spontaneity is descending on my inflexibility.  And I feel free.

Lord my heart is open to Your present moment and whatever adventures each new day brings.

I don’t know where God will lead me on this new escapade, but I am ready to go - to experience “fun stories that will happen when I make choice I normally don’t make.”

PS. This new nugget of truth reminded me of a great inspirational story I once heard about God and adventure. I will hunt it up and put in on this blog this Saturday, April 9. 

How did you react when you read the phrase “Fun stories happen when you make choices you normally don’t make?”

God’s Question: Where Are You?

Where are you?

Where are you?

When Adam and Eve hid after eating from the tree, God walked in the garden and gently called, “Where are you?” Genesis 3: 9

Of course, God knew where they were hiding. He already knew what happened. He knew their sin. He knew just how they were feeling. He knew.

Yet He called to them.

He came to them.

He sought them in the garden.

Where are you?

This question haunts my morning devotions. I hear God asking me the same thing.

Where are you?

With a deep sigh, I try to answer the question.  The process centers my thoughts to the present moment and helps me identify what I am feeling.

Where are you?

Sometimes I am alone and lonely.

Sometime I am alone and at peace.

Sometimes I am at a place where I feel safe.

Sometimes I feel scared, hovering in the corner of an empty room.

Sometimes no matter how hard I try or cry, I can’t find you, Lord.

But You come searching for me, just like you did in the Eden’s garden.

“Where are you?” God asks.

I am here, Lord. Thank you for finding me.

God’s First Choice – Lectio Divina

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, just as he chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before him in love. He destined us for adoption as his children through Jesus Christ, according to the good pleasure of his will. 

Ephesians 1: 3-5

He chose us in Christ before the foundation of the world

Lord I have read this verses before but never noticed this phrase before. It jumped off the pages of my Bible into my heart.

I said it aloud as if I didn’t believe what I was reading:

God, the Creator, the Almighty, the One and Only chose us – all of us -  "before the foundation of the world to be holy and blameless before Him in love."

Wow! You have loved us before You created the world.

You chose us to be your children at the very beginning.

You knew us as you formed us and determined we would always be a part of your family, your plan, your love.

Lord when I doubt if my life has meaning.

When my heart fills with discouragement and emptiness.

When my self esteem plummets and fatigue drains all my energy.

When I feel like the little kid on the playground that nobody wants for their team, help me remember this verse, Lord.

Help me remember I was in and on Your heart from the very beginning  - before you created anything else  - you chose me.

You wrapped Your arms around me and brought me into Your heart as part of your family.

I don’t fully understand why or how, but isn’t it great to be chosen?

YOU chose us.

We are Your first choice.

What a blessing – to be handpicked by God.

God Listens – Quote of the Week – Max Lucado

God Listens.

“You can talk to God because God listens. Your voice matters in heaven. He takes you very seriously. 

When you enter His presence, the attendants turn to you to hear your voice.  No need to fear that you will be ignored. 

Even if you stammer or stumble, even if what you have to say impresses no one, it impresses God – 

and He listens.”

Max Lucado