Nicknames

   Since I'm not attending church (Sunday school only) I've been listening to pod casts of the sermons.  In one of the sermons the pastor mentioned that James, half-brother of Jesus, was nicknamed "Old Camel Knees." I had never heard that before.  Of course when I googled it I found out that because he prayed on behalf of the people so much it was said his knees developed a hardness like camel knees.  Wow...who knew?!
   That got me thinking about nicknames.  When I was in college and my sis was in fourth grade, she would write letters to me several times a week.  In one of the letters she wrote, "You are sweat!" I thought that was so cute.  After that I started calling her "Sweatie" instead of sweetie. I still use the nickname occasionally and get odd looks. It's a term of endearment and still makes me smile and remember all the letters she wrote that helped me not be so homesick.
   I recently read a fiction book that talked about a nickname for the Holy Spirit. In the book, one of the characters explained that she understood God as Father and Jesus as Savior, but at first had a hard time drawing close to the Holy Spirit.  She shared how she started referring to Him as "Lovey" and would keep a running conversation going with Him. Yes, it was a fiction book, but WOW...what an insight. Now for your English lesson: When you add the suffix -y to the end of a word, it means characterized by or inclined to.  The Holy Spirit is characterized by love.  The Holy Spirit is inclined to love.  This falls right in line with Him being our Comforter.
   Nicknames can be given to those we love because of a specific attribute they have or and event in their lives. I had never thought of giving a nickname to God, have you?  That got me thinking, "What nickname would I give God and why?"
  

More Great Imagery

  After today's devotion, I was reminded of a couple of childhood memories, a mission trip, a song (Sometimes I tend to think in songs.), and a video about Genesis 3 from a dear friend.  So to start, I'm going to do things a bit upside down.  I'm starting with the end of today's devotion from Jesus Calling by Sarah Young.

When you commune with Me in the garden of your heart, both you and I are blessed.  This is My way of living in the world-through you!  Together we will push back the darkness for I am the Light of the world. (John 8:12)

  Love the image of a garden.  (Yes, part of the devotion concerns "The Garden," but stick with me through my trip down memory lane.) I remember when I was really young...like maybe five years old...and would "help" my uncle in his garden.  I'm not sure how much help I was, but I loved hanging out with him in the garden.  Growing up, my mom and I had a flower bed, usually around the side of the house where my dad had fixed a place for us.  I remember having marigolds, snapdragons, and zinnias. Planting the seeds with Mom is a special memory.  When I read the imagery of "the garden of your heart" and remembered my garden experiences, I was drawn closer to God.
  The rest of the devotion and my comments throughout:
   "In closeness to Me, you are safe.  In the intimacy of My Presence, you are energized.  No matter where you are in the world, you know you belong when you sense My nearness." This reminded me of a mission trip to Tonga (little island near New Zealand).  Went there to work on the Mango Tree Project for handicapped kids.  Remember one particular evening when my world became much smaller.  We were gathered with our group from the U.S. and with our Tongan brothers and sisters. It wasn't a planned service, but someone had a guitar and we sang.  God's sweet spirit fell over our group and I remember thinking, "I'm on the other side of the world, but I'm with family." I can't describe the feeling...I knew God was there, just as He is here and where ever I am. Another scripture for the devotion was Psalm 32:7...love The Message version: "God's my island hideaway,  keeps danger far from the shore, throws garlands of hosannas around my neck."
   "Ever since the Fall, man has experienced a gaping emptiness that only My Presence can fill.  I designed you for close communication with your Creator." Here's where the song comes in..."God-Shaped Hole" by Plumb (The video for this song is awesome!):

       "How I enjoyed waling in the garden with Adam and Eve, before the evil one deceived them!" Okay, time for a short Bible lesson.  Shame-Blame-Flame.  Saw this video a friend did on Genesis 3 the other day and when I read this devotion, I knew it was a great fit.  Enjoy!

   I think one thing I learned from today's devotion is that sometimes God brings to mind things we've already experienced or we already know to remind us of His closeness and His desire for us to be closer to Him.

Change...(and an update)

From Jesus Calling by Sarah Young, p.237:

...The world you inhabit is a place of constant changes- more than your mind can absorb without going into shock.  Even the body you inhabit is changing relentlessly, in spite of modern science's attempts to prolong youth and life indefinitely.  I, however, am the sam yesterday and today and forever.[Hebrews 13:8] Because I never change, your relationship with Me provides a rock-solid foundation for your life.  I will never leave your side...You have nothing to fear, because I am with ou for all time and throughout eternity.

From a card I received today:

In the ever-changing circumstances of life, there is a faithful, never-changing God in control. Every day begins and ends with His purpose- there isn't a detail that escapes His eye...a trial that doesn't touch His heart... or a single experience beyond His compassion. (The scripture verse was Philippians 4:6-7.)

   To say my circumstances, my body, my plans (There I go making God laugh again.) have changed over the past few weeks would be an understatement.  I, like most people, don't like change.  I kind of like the illusion that I am truly in control of every aspect of my life.  This was going to be my last year to teach...retirement was on the horizon.  After joining Weight Watchers and losing 73 pounds, I was healthier than I'd been in several years.I became a Weight Watchers Leader and loved being at the meetings and helping others on their healthy weight loss journey. This whole leukemia thing really threw a wrench in things. 
   So I came up with an idea that I presented to God.  Knowing we will have a new body in eternity and I will be in eternity with Him, I though it would be a good idea to get that body as a "loaner" here for a while. Since I'm  going to be there eventually, I can return it. Well, that didn't work out. 
   In the midst of this crazy, changing, whirlwind of life, God remains the only constant.  I find peace and hope in the craziness because I know His character never changes. (Check out this blog about the Attributes of God to get a glimpse of His character.)

Update:
    You know how when someone tells you not to do something, then you really want to do it? Today I was told I couldn't blow my nose...something to do with blood clotting issues (not boogers, this time). It was kinda like on the first day I was here and they told me I couldn't leave the floor...I had an overwhelming urge to go to the gift shop. In spite of this minor detail, it was another good day.  It was a quiet, restful day.  I enjoyed cards, emails, texts, and calls.  Sis and nephew visited. Nephew and I watched Tim Hawkins Youtube videos. I'm glad I can be up and about.  God continues to reveal His unchangeable character.

  

Update (With a little evangelism)

   Today Dr. B was at my room at 5:30.  She caught me making a note in my phone and wanted to know what I was doing awake.  I told her when I remember things and don't right them down I forget. She just smiled.  She also told me that I had passed a huge hurdle.  She said that since I made it to the 5th day without major complications, I was in the 80 percent for survival. I was already planning on that. (There I go planning again!). Before she left, I asked if I could pray with her.  She said she'd love that and reached for my hands. (I think she's done this before.) After the prayer, she smiled. God continues to work in so many ways.
   I had a good visit with my sis today.  She has been doing a great job coordinating things and taking care of things for me.  Some great friends finished working upstairs  in my house to get it ready to sell.  My bro-in-law and nephews came for a visit. My neighbors and friends from around the corner stopped by. A sweet lady from my Sunday school class came to visit and stayed to help get up and about.  Had a great time chatting with her.  Also had a call from my PC Dr. and PA...only they were here in "friend" mode instead of  "doctor" mode.
   Right now I'm sitting in my bed, finishing up this post and have another I started earlier.  I'm looking out at the skyline, all the lights thinking about all of the people and all of their stories.  I know there are people living on the streets I see from my window.  I'm wondering how they are making it through these hot days.  There are people who work in the buildings all lit up tonight who will return to work tomorrow with a new set of worries for the day.  I truly don't know how anyone can make it without God.  Some people say that if you believe in God, you're using a crutch.  I'm okay with that.  If you're sick you go to the doctor, right? Hopefully, you trust your doctor and follow his advice to get well.  Then why, when you're sick in spirit, or life, or...fill in the blank...do you not go to the Great Physician, read His prescription (the Bible...Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth), and follow His care plan?
   I really hope that tomorrow will also be a good day.  Even if it's not, I know I have a good God that will be with me whatever the day brings!

Coincidence? Not!

     I don't believe in coincidences.  I believe everything happens for a reason (even if I don't always know that reason). Some people call those things that apparently happen "Godcidences."  One of those happened to me today.
     May 24th is my anniversary of sorts.  Four years ago today, I had a surgery that made me cancer free.  This evening I was reading scripture in preparation for my Bible study tomorrow evening.  I've been really busy packing my classroom, so I got a late start on reading the first thirteen chapters of II Kings.  I think I was reading exactly what I was suppose to read, exactly when I was suppose to read it.  You see, I remember vividly the scripture I read for my devotion the morning I received my cancer diagnosis.  It was  II Kings chapter 6. 
     In this chapter God causes an iron axhead to float and delivers an entire army into the hands of an unarmed prophet. I remember that morning when the question asked, after listing the amazing things God did, "Is there anything God cannot do?" I quickly thought, "Well, no, of course not!" When I heard the words, "It is cancer," that evening from my primary care doctor, I was reminded of my devotion from that morning and experienced peace as I tried to wrap my mind around what I'd just heard and prepare for the fight.
     Tonight, as I sat with my nephews while my sis kept a watch on the weather, I read over those same scriptures and was reminded of my experience from four years ago.  I shared with my nephews about the scriptures and they were wowed by the fact I didn't plan to read that particular passage, but did on my anniversary. I was wowed, too.  God continues to remind me that no matter what it is...cancer, storms, things seen, things unseen...there is nothing God cannot do.
     Thanks, God! I needed that reminder!

Who is your country?

     No, that's not a misprint.  Who is your country? It's the question I asked myself after reading the introduction to I & II Samuel in The Message. Eugene Peterson is talking about four characters that dominate the two books...Hannah, Samuel, Saul, and David.  Peterson says, "Not one of them can be accounted for in terms of cultural conditions or psychological dynamics; God is the country in which they live."
     Okay, so that got me thinking, "Do I let my culture determine how I live.  Do I let what others think about me, my beliefs and my morals determine how I live?"  I think about how Romans 12:1-2 challenges me not to conform to the way the world thinks and acts. I am very blessed to have been born in the physical country in which I reside.  I've seen the conditions and heard stories from the people of those countries about the persecution they suffered because of their beliefs. In spite of our location on the Earth, I believe that God can be the country in which we live.  I want God to be the country in which I live. 
     Being a teacher, I think of what defines a country's boarders and gives it its identity.  Things like mountains, rivers, plains, deserts...natural things that may physically mark a boarder...surround a country to define where it ends/begins or give the country it's physical features. Other things define a country. Currency, economy, culture, and government come to mind. 
     Being a Christian, I see how the things that define a country are the some of the very things that define God.  God did come in the physical...Jesus.  He lived, taught how to live in God's kingdom, died, was resurrected and lives.  When I think of currency and economy, I think about God's currency and exchange rate being love, grace and mercy and how He gives it freely.  In God's economy, giving is the priority.  Does that mean God wants us to be poor? No, He wants us to take our gifts and talents, whatever they may be, and use them for His glory. God's culture is described in detail in His book, the Bible.  The descriptions tell stories of real people in real situations who make good and bad choices.  The descriptions tell about a God who is personally involved in the lives of people. God's culture is not materialistic, greedy, about success or power or being in style.  What is it about?  See Romans 12:1-2.
     Okay, I'm done.  I do want to close with one more quote from Peterson's intro to I & II Samuel.  "God is the larger context and plot in which our stories find themselves" (The Message-the Kindle Edition, 2002).  That actually reminds me of the study "Experiencing God" by Henry Blackaby.  What I really remember from that study is that instead of trying to come up with some really great program or "thing" to do for God, see where God is working and join Him. A post for another day!