Nothing New For Me

I'm so done looking for the innovative, riveting, complex, and trendy new thought. Not that I was ever good at that. I actually am particularly NOT good at that.

And somehow I'm okay. Somehow I'm not feeling left behind. My simplicity is just alright with me.

And so today and yesterday and the day before I found myself talking about the same ol' same ol'. Even so, tears filled my eyes, passion caught in my throat and pushed through the airways in a stream of joyous telling of that same ol' same ol'.

Jesus made men. Jesus made women. And when they marry they are husband and wife.

Some become fathers. Some become mothers. Some are given children to become the next generation of Kingdom dwellers.

And His Word tells us how it should work, laying out the perfect design for us to explore again and again. First with that one, and that one, and now with this one.

It is amazing truth. It is freeing truth. Because it is...truth. Simple, unadulterated truth.

Come to think about it, it is always innovative. Always riveting. Always complex. Rarely trendy.
But always and forever it is Truth.

Available to the simple minded, the child, the master, the rich, and the poor. Powerful. Transformative.

Truth.

Obedience, No Matter What

Trust and obey, for there's no other way

To be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey.

That's an old refrain from another day and time. The truth remains true (funny how truth is like that) but I'm not sure our understanding of those words is as clear.

Obey - to comply with or follow commands, restrictions, wishes, or instructions

I get the feeling today that obedience in many if not most situations is subject to circumstance.

"But Mom, I couldn't do it because I got this text from a friend and had to..."

"I know the assignment was due today but last night I just wasn't feeling my best and..." 

"My work shift was scheduled to start ten minutes ago but there was snow on the windshield and..."

With genuine incredulity we stand amazed as the boss, teacher, or mom cites that instruction was disregarded, commands ignored, requirements disparaged. Lucky us if that is the case. At least we are in the company of those who have a correct assessment of the value of obedience.

More often, unfortunately, we may actually be coddled and excused from the failure to comply or follow through. Apparently disobedience is too strong of a word, too harsh an accusation to levy on an employee, student, or child.

Oh, how we fail to understand. And oh, how we fail to instruct.

There is right and wrong.

There is wisdom and foolishness.

There is obedience and disobedience.

It is clear. God is not a trickster who delights in keeping us clueless. His Word teaches us the difference between right and wrong and to recognize disobedience.

Open the Word and learn. Then teach your children. Practice discipline as the deserved consequence to be expected. Demonstrate mercy as the generous alternative that is not deserved. 

They will know the wrong of disobedience and the grateful heart of one who understands mercy.

Tree Side Sighs

We packed our luggage on New Year's Eve day and headed to Fredericksburg, VA. We just arrived home today from several days with Carina and her family. Up the long staircase I trudged with heavily laden arms, back to my world.

And our lighted Christmas tree greeted me. Window bays and tabletops still cheerily displayed familiar but out of time holiday decor. A bit of a time warp. Christmas was all put away and the New Year already welcomed in Fredericksburg but not here at 105 Main.

Bags were soon emptied. I intended to nap (it was a very early departure this morning.) But somehow I instead found myself obediently acknowledging the calendar. I began gathering decor for storage. Manger scenes, wreaths, snowmen and candles all were garnered on the dining room table for wrapping and boxing, evergreen boughs and holly stems tossed away. One trip, one handful at a time.

Until now. Now I sit next to the brightly lit tree, still soft and pliable and boasting treasured ornaments, glowing and filling the corner with colored light.

Sigh. Let me sit here. Let me enjoy this delight one more time. Have I even done this yet? Even once during December? I'm not sure that I did. Sigh.

Rick is resting. Merrick is at work. So I sit in the semi-silence of semi-darkness. Outside my windows, cars shuttle past on the way home from work as dusk falls.

But that is out there. Here, here by my tree I sit and sigh and stare.

You know what I'm learning?

Year by year I get a bit more reticent to let this season pass. There is never enough. It feels like I could use an eternity of days to just celebrate His goodness.

Sigh. What a good good, good good plan that is.