Prepared By Grace

by Sue Donaldson

I’ve been lifted by grace this past week. I guess I always am, but some weeks I call out for it more, need it more, and rest in it more. (And, my friends hear about it more!) My year’s verse—John 15:5 – is all about abiding. And, through prayers of friends, I’ve been riding the grace-wave, learning to abide even while anxious and a bit trembly at times.

On Sunday last, Dad, at 92, broke the inevitable hip. He got the titanium ball replacement the very next evening, and is walking slow paces down hospital halls a bit more every day. I went down to LA to stay with mom a few days. I wondered more than once, “Will daddy die this week? He’s certainly old enough. And, how will mom endure his death?”

My college friend, Lizzie, had asked me a few months back: “Are you prepared for your folks’ deaths?” “No,” I replied, “I don’t think I am – even tho they are long past due at their age!”

How does one “prepare?” I don’t know. Maybe you do. I knew I was lifted by grace this week because the trip went well, I was able to encourage and serve mom gracefully, and the kids and Mark survived my being gone. Dad, the incredible optimist, is anxious to get home. His main concern was mom – he kept calling his friends: “Don’t forget Betty.” Sweet.

My main preparation for any day – since we don’t know what any day will hold – is learning to abide in Jesus. Psalm 73:23 states: “I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand. You will guide me with Your counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.” Sounds like abiding to me. And, it sounds mutual: I’m with Him, and He holds onto me – tight. I’m grateful and still growing. Should be a great year.

Father God,

Thank You for friends who lift me to You when I’m weak and trembly. Your counsel is what I need. Thank You for strengthening weak hearts and hips. Help me to abide day in and day out – preparing me as You see fit.

Amen.

The Unfolding of Your Words

by Sue Donaldson

Since I am the last person in SLO to have finally read Safely Home by Randy Alcorn, perhaps you need to be reminded of what the Chinese Christian, Li Quan thought while suffering alone in his prison cell:

“In this cell, stripped of comfort and ease, unable to do what he would like, he was free from distraction. He had only his mind, and what he had put into it. Quan thanked God every hour spent meditating on his Word, which constituted the reservoir from which he now drew daily.”

If I found myself in his place – having only my mind, and what I had put into it—would I find such an overflowing reservoir? I think not. As much as I love and depend on and read God’s river Word, my reservoir is not near full enough. Perhaps Americans are flabby Christians – not “needing” to exercise our minds so much in Scripture since it is so readily available to us. I can pick up a different version of my host of Bibles in every room of our home. But that doesn’t mean it readily flows through my heart at any given moment.

Summer can bring more flab than usual. Our usual study is “on break” for the summer. That’s not a bad thing, but it can mean we are not automatically studying as much. Does that mean less of the Word in our reservoir?

I hope not. You can always check with your local Christian bookstore for some short-term Bible study books that you can do with a friend or neighbor. (A friend helps keep us accountable, you know.)

One study I did years ago (which bears repeating) was to study Psalm 119 – it’s all about the Word. I listed all of the effects of Scripture, all my responsibilities, and all of God’s responsibilities. It made a neat study – all those columns. Time to pour it back into my reservoir, I think.

Here’s a taste: “Your statutes are wonderful; therefore, I obey them. The unfolding of Your Words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.” (Psalm 119: 129,130)

We need light, don’t you think? Let His Words unfold all the more as the summer approaches.

Lord,

Thank You for your Word that never comes to an end. Help us soak it up this summer.

Love, Sue

Delighting and Enjoying, Part II

by Sue Donaldson

So, how has it been – this process of delighting and enjoying your Lord this week?

I still find myself mostly still asking and begging in my prayers – with thanks and gratefulness thrown in all over the place. But, still, not so much the enjoying and the delighting of just being with God.

I am aware of it now, and I try not to be too hard on myself.

This morning’s reading helped:

“The Lord Himself is my inheritance, my prize. He is my food and drink, my highest joy!

I am always thinking of the Lord; and because He is so near, I never need to stumble or to fall. You have let me experience the joys of life and exquisite pleasures of Your own eternal presence.” (Psalm 16:5,8,11 – The Living Bible)

I love food and drink – a foodie, as they say. I can relate to that image. And, I love prizes (Jean just called and practically yelled into the phone: “I won! I won! I got the prize of a bag of free groceries this week at New Frontiers! I told the guy, ‘I LOVE winning!’”

Don’t we all? And, we’ve already won. Jesus, my prize! Wow! I LOVE winning!

Father God,

Thanks for being my very prize. Help me drink in Your presence all day long. And, thanks for blessing dear Jean.

Amen.

Delighting and Enjoying - It's a Gift

by Sue Donaldson

My theme verse for the year is:

John 15:5 – “I am the Vine, you are the branches. If a man abides in Me and I in you, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me, you can do nothing.”

Liz Young showed me a devotional selection on how to abide in Jesus. It’s a gradual process – “up the scale” – from knowing He’s there, to consulting with Him on all my concerns, and, finally – the most intimate – to delighting in and enjoying His person. This process includes a climb, but it’s not a matter of sweat – more, a matter of desire.

How much do you enjoy Jesus? Not His gifts, not His peace, not His assurances – just Himself?

Last night Mark and I had a date. Sitting together, watching a movie (The Soloist,) talking about it afterward (schizophrenia and it’s implications) over Mexican food at Chili Pepper’s (his turn to choose – we go there every other time – he is consistent.) – all that built intimacy and enjoyment. Not just because of the food or the entertainment – but because of the time spent together. Time well-spent, money and energy well-spent.

After 20 years of marriage, intimacy grows. Delight and enjoyment is easier. It’s a gift.

I love Jesus. I want to love Him more, enjoy His person, sit and chew the fat (or, the rice and beans, whatever the case) – just because. Just because. Listening to “Mercy Me” (loudly) in the van helped me do just that today. In fact, I couldn’t sing along without crying – wonder how they do it?

“I can feel Your presence here with me, Suddenly I’m lost within Your beauty,

Caught up in the wonder of Your touch, Here in this moment I surrender to Your love…”

Enjoying and delighting in the person of Jesus. It’s a gift. The best and the biggest.

How’s your enjoyment factor? Delighting and enjoying. I look forward to this year of learning to abide.

I’ll borrow the prayer from Liz’s devotional: “Lord, help me to graduate up the scale from convert, to ambassador, to confidant. To abide in You is to ride the high places of the earth.” Amen. Enjoy your ride.

A little postscript:

I would never had read about that ride to abiding if I hadn’t called Liz for coffee – I actually invited myself to her house. You can’t do that with everyone – you can with Liz. God puts people around us who love to be called and have so much to give. Ask Him if He has someone special in mind for you to call this week. It’s a gift.

God's Eyes

by Sue Donaldson

II Chronicles 16:9 caught my eye this morning:

“For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him…” (NIV)

The Lord is on a search, it seems--His eyes on the look-out, seeking for certain types. He wants to pass on His strength. He’s ready and willing to give what we need.

Would His search stop over your house this morning?

“Hey, look! There’s Sue. Here’s one whose heart is fully committed to Me. That’s so great – okay, here’s the strength she needs for today. Onward and upward.”

Or, not:

“Uhh…no use stopping here. Sue thinks she’s got it together without Me. She loves me somewhat, obeys when it’s convenient, and serves Me if it doesn’t hurt too much. Nope. She’s Mine, all right, but not exactly fully committed. Too bad. She’s going to need my strength today. Let’s move on. Maybe she’ll wake up soon.”

(I’m an idiot.)

I like the NAS: “For the eyes of the Lord move to and fro throughout the earth that He may strongly support those whose heart is completely His.”

No room around that phrase: “completely His.”

Lord,

Have mercy on my soul. I need Your strength every minute – even when I forget. Remind me, remind me. I don’t want a day or minute without You.

Completely Your’s,

Sue

Little Sanctuaries

by Sue Donaldson

“Church is supposed to be a sanctuary (not just have one.)”

-Kathy Vick

Many, many around the world entered a church sanctuary on Sunday – maybe the one time all year, being Easter and all. Did they find the sanctuary they needed? Hopefully, they were invited – not just to come again, not just to join a new social circle – but invited into soul-sanctuary: a forever-refuge from human-ills, sin sickness, loneliness.

Paul told us that if we’ve entered this eternal sanctuary, we now “house” the Spirit – we ourselves have become little temples of God. He’s graced our lives, dwelling inside 24/7, til we see Him face to face.

“Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you?” I Corinthians 3:16

At Easter Sunday brunch, Jean and Mark provided sanctuary for Bev, widowed just 4 weeks ago. She loves their sweet boys (and they her.) A much needed refuge for Bev.

Sanctuary was at work in Grace’s courtyard as Lisa (90 and a spitfire) met new best friends over coffee and muffins (“Yes, we will pick you up for the salad supper, don’t worry…”)

Dan’s soul received refuge when a friend told him, “I will keep your boy in my prayers during his wandering. My brother wandered 9 years but came back through much prayer.”

Interesting -- none of the above happened inside the building-sanctuary

Have you received someone’s “sanctuary” for rest and respite? It doesn’t have to be at church. Have you given that same sanctuary to a fellow pilgrim?

We all need to be that shelter and retreat for one another as God’s little sanctuaries.

Even if you feel you are the one who needs it most today, if you spread your nets wider, make that call, write that note – your heart will also be refreshed. That’s how it works. Ask Jesus to help you know just what to do. He’s right there, closer than we realize—“Don’t you know…God’s Spirit lives in you?” How fun to be His refuge to those He loves.

Dear Father,

Thank You that You came to dwell in our lives. You offer the best refuge and shelter. May we know just how to give that sanctuary to one of Your children today. Amen.

God's Choice

by Sue Donaldson

God has an open-door policy. I’ve known that for a long time. He wants us close, near, on His lap, at His shoulder – intimate –“I no longer call you servants…instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father, I have made known to you.” (John 15:15) Letting others in on this secret connection is my passion. Your’s as well, I hope.

But, God shut the door-- His wide open door, one time – and it was on His own Son.

The tragedy of the cross was not the nails, the sword, the humiliation, the what if’s.

It was a Father turning His back on His Son.

Mark 15: 34 – “And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice… ‘My God, my God, why have You forsaken Me?’”

How did He stand it? Could we have done the same? I don’t think so.

The One Who welcomed all at creation denied His Son access when He needed it most. His denial made our access possible.

Romans 5:1,2- 6-8– “…we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand…when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. . . God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

Do not go lightly into His presence this week—an access provided at great cost. God closed the door on a Beloved Son. All for love, we stand in “this grace.” All for love, God’s door swung wide for us. But there was a cost.

Do go. But do not go lightly.

Father,

I don’t know how You did it – but I do know why. I accept Your love and grace. It would be a waste if I didn’t. Thank You. Amen.

The Most Important Thing

by Sue Donaldson

One time, across a lunch table at Apple Farm, I said to a dear friend who didn’t know Christ:

“I think the most important thing about being a Christian is . . .forgiveness.”

Somehow that seemed inadequate as I was trying to share the Gospel. I had hesitated because how can you say what is most important? How often do you get the opportunity to begin -or end- that sentence with someone?

But I’ll never forget her response:

“That is no small thing, Sue.”

And she was right. Forgiveness is no small thing.

Perhaps you might fill something else in the blank: “The most important thing about being a Christian is: _______________.”

And whatever you would say would also be right -- but somehow that word said it all that day for me and my friend.

Psalm 32 is the consummate word on the blessedness of forgiveness—it describes it like no other.

I heard somewhere long ago that Psalm 32 is to be read after Psalm. 51. It’s the sequel that shouldn’t be missed – it’s the sequel that’s better than the first. In fact, if you don’t mind writing in your Bible, turn to Psalm 51 and write in the margin: “Now, read Psalm 32.” In fact, I would venture to say, never read the first without giving yourself enough time to read the second.

David wrote Psalm 51 when he was in the depths of despair—as well he should have been, we might add. His heart was broken, his spirit was crushed with the weight of his guilt, and that is right where God wanted him.

And that is right where God wants us-- every time we veer a little to the right or the left off the path of holiness He’s set for us. Once we get that straight, we can begin to experience the joy of Psalm 32.

Easter is all about forgiveness. Let’s don’t forget the most important thing. God didn’t. And He keeps on forgiving. All because of Easter.

“Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.” (Psalm 32:1)

Dear Father God,

Thank You for Your great sacrifice so I could be forgiven. May I forgive others the same way you have forgiven me.

I love You, Sue

PS And thanks for that great sequel!

Gardens of Contentment

by Sue Donaldson

Spring has about sprung – I can tell by the gale winds galloping through our neighborhood. Time for a little gardening. Have you got the itch for digging in the dirt, planting a seed or seedling here and there, and figuring out your watering schedule?

Gardening takes work – it’s not just about all new gloves and a sun hat. We need to take care of what we plant. And the more we nurture the seed – just the right amount of sun and water and plant food – the better the results. We know this to be a fact. We don’t always follow through on our new Spring resolutions.

While walking down our street last week, Lisa and I were talking about contentment. (Women especially have difficulty in that area. I’m sure it started with Eve – she had a whole garden of other trees, for heaven’s sake…)

Lisa said that becoming more content takes cultivation – like gardening (she does more gardening than I do, so she was thinking in those terms) – but I got it. I knew that when I plant seeds of contentment – and take care of those seeds – my contentment grows.

Here’s what I came up with. Maybe you could make your own list of “seeds” that help you cultivate what God says is a good thing. “Godliness with contentment is great gain.” (I Timothy 6)

Planting Seeds of Contentment

10 Steps to Cultivate Contentment

It Starts and Ends with God!

-1-

Tell God Everything

Psalm 62:8

-2-

See Things His Way

I Timothy 6:6-19

-3-

First Things First

Matthew 6:33

-4-

Get a Team

Ecclesiastes 4: 9-12

-5-

You Matter

I Corinthians 6:19,20

-6-

Trust God’s Timing

Proverbs 3:5, 6

-7-

Press On

Philippians 3:12

-8-

List your Thankful’s

I Thessalonians 5:18

-9-

Be a Giver

Psalm 37: 25, 26

-10-

Get to Know Your God

Psalm 62:5-7

Maybe try out a “seed” a week for the next 10 weeks and see how your garden grows. When we harvest contentment, everyone benefits.

Dear Master Gardener,

Please help me plant your seeds of contentment. I need Your help every step of the way. Looking forward to lots of flowers this Spring! (I bet You are, too!)

Amen.

Finding Contentment

by Sue Donaldson

God says that contentment is worthwhile. (“Godliness with contentment is great gain.”) I Timothy 6:6

Where do we find it?

He knows it doesn’t come from possessions (“I’d like to have one of THOSE, Lord, and then I’ll be happy, really – just one, Lord, that’s all I need…okay, maybe two…”)

He knows it doesn’t come from people (“Father, if You would just wave Your wand over my husband and make him the Man of Your Dreams – all for Your glory, of course-- then I would be perfectly content – and, at long last, we would be perfectly matched…”)

And, He knows it doesn’t come from circumstances (Dear Father, please take this cup from Me … then I will praise You the rest of my life – or, at least until the next trial…”)

I love this quote:

“Since only God can supply all our needs, true contentment is found only in Him.”

That sounds basic -- because it is – but still profound, don’t you think?

So, maybe we don’t seek contentment (even though it is great gain) – rather, we seek God.

I think it’s a matter of sequence. Matthew 6:33 says,

“Seek first the kingdom of God and all these things will be added unto you.”

When you are feeling discontented with someone or something or some situation – check your sequence. That means – what’s first?

Is it God’s kingdom? Or, Sue’s kingdom?

Do I want Him first? Or, second (or, tenth?)

Jesus said we don’t need to worry about the details because He will. We’ve got the best interior decorator, cook, entertainer, personal trainer, shopper – all in One – and all we do is seek Him and His kingdom first – and He will show us what do to next. (Remind me to tell you what happened at Banana Republic yesterday!!)

We’re given many steps to cultivating contentment. Perhaps the first is to put first things first.

Dear Father of all Details,

Thanks that You are so clear. May You be first in any endeavor and desire of mine. Amen.

All I Need

by Sue Donaldson

A preschool class was memorizing the 23^rd Psalm. Little Bobby couldn’t quite get it down. When his turn came to perform, he walked confidently up to the microphone and began:

“The Lord is my Shepherd…that’s all I really need to know.”

Smart kid.

Sheep completely depend on their shepherd – for food, protection, guidance. How come we don’t?

Two reasons:

We think we can do it.

We think God can’t do it.

One way or the other, we forget we have a Shepherd. So we take on the world without asking for help. We worry, we stew, we lash out, we put our heads down and wonder how we – or someone we love - will survive.

Already today I’ve lost my cell phone, the room where I’m working all day is absolutely freezing, and, the internet won’t connect (how will I survive??) I remembered Bobby’s line and reminded myself—“You have a Shepherd, Sue – depend, depend, depend – relax, relax, relax (repetition seems to help…) – ask, ask, ask. (Bleat, bleat, bleat…)

Abby found my phone in the truck. An angel came to the classroom (actually, he was an angel dressed like a school janitor. Who called him? I didn’t – maybe he heard the bleating.) – and fixed the heat –it’s humming nicely and my bones no longer ache. The internet won’t work, but I don’t need it to at this very moment, so I’m fine – sitting cozy and eating grass contentedly, like a good sheep.

“The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures…surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life…” (Psalm 23)

That’s all I really need to know.

Dear Shepherd,

Thank You that You are all I need. I need to remember that all day. And, tomorrow as well.

Love,

Your forgetful sheep

Faith Building

by Sue Donaldson

If you want bigger faith, pray in the small things – not just the big things. Lorraine said this ever so serenely over Lady Grey tea last Monday: “Sue, we make a mistake when we only pray about Big Things because we see God’s faithfulness in the small things.”

I liked that. Reminded me of praying for a parking spot at 4:50 pm downtown San Luis (or maybe that’s in the Big Things category, depending on construction and retrofitting…)

A major crisis can throw us in a tail-spin emotionally, and then right into our Savior’s arms, if we’re smart. That’s what He wants and expects.

But, what about the dailies – the unexpected interruptions – the annoying aches and pains that interrupt sleep – the wondering what should I do to make this birthday really special for my kid –the unending dog hair on the hardwood floors – the decision: do I buy a new desk or just keep spreading my books and papers all over the dining room table?

These dailies make up our lives, often. And when piled into stacks right next to our bed – like that laundry that will not go away all by itself –they tower over our spirits, sucking our joy, removing any thought that we belong to the God of the Universe Who loves us with an everlasting love and knows how to handle details. These details. Our details. He loves us – that’s the key. And, He knows our day before us. And He wants to tell us that He loves us. One way is through the small stuff.

“Don’t sweat it, Sue. I’m right here. Roll it on Me. I can deal – small or big – I can deal.”

Jesus said and I read it again today (bless Him!) – “Look at the birds…are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?” (Matthew 6: 26,27)

Not even one hour, Lord? But I could use that extra hour, to finish the laundry, if nothing else…

No, not even one hour, Sue. Give it over. Your worries, I mean. And, I will give you what you need. I promise.

Thanks, Lord. It’s midnight. Think I’ll call it a day. And, in the morning, I’ll go look at those birds.

What Is Your Passion?

by Sue Donaldson

A local political candidate came to my door last Fall and presented herself for my vote. When she finished, I asked, “So, what’s your passion?”

“My passion? Well, I guess it’s to insure we have good bike paths in San Luis…”

(Peggy Brown probably voted for her – see previous post.)

Now bike paths are important…I guess. But, a passion?

Have you thought about it? We all have a passion – more than one, most likely. You can figure it out by how your heart leaps when you get a chance to do your passion or when you find someone else who loves what you love.

It’s a little different for each person – we’re unique. And, when we live out our God-given passion, God is most glorified. Like a proud parent at a dance recital, our Father puffs out His chest and says to any who will listen, “Look at her! Isn’t she beautiful? I made her to do that, you know. It suits her. And, she’s going to get better and better. Wow! Did you see that?!” (“And God saw that it was good…” – Genesis 1)

I asked a group of girlfriends around my table that very question, “Besides your family, what’s your passion?” It was insightful and entertaining. The joke became: “Well, besides Jesus…my passion is…”

I loved that. “Besides Jesus…” We love Jesus. He’s our first passion and everything else, uniquely ours, stems from that first love.

If you’re wondering just what is your passion, start there, with Jesus. Paul did, over and over.

“He is before all things and in Him all things hold together… He is the head…the beginning… so that in everything He might have the supremacy.” Colossians 1:17,18

Those are passionate words: “all” - “in everything” - “supremacy.” Start with Jesus. Is He your all and all? Then, look around and see Who’s proud as punch to be your Daddy!

Dear Father,

Thank you for making me to reflect You and glorify You – uniquely! May I live out of my passion – loving and serving You with abandon. Love, Sue

PS

Besides reading and mentoring a dozen of us grateful girls . . . AND Jesus -- here is Laurie’s passion (which she shares, on occasion)--

God's Plans

by Sue Donaldson

A favorite passage often quoted are the words of God to Jeremiah – perhaps you love them, too:

“’For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope.’” (Jeremiah 29:11)

We like to know that God has plans for us, that He’s paying attention, and if we’re in calamity – we like to believe that good will come from it – sooner rather than later. No one likes pain. Brother Lawrence said we don’t need to pray for suffering – it just comes, part of living on earth.

But, God has plans, and they are for us, to give us a future and a hope.

While contemplating a creek near his camping spot, my brother Steve wondered what God had in store for his future. And, since he’s a prolific poet, he wrote the following:

“The water was flowing, endlessly, it seemed, down the waterfall, having somewhere – by God’s plan for all big things and little – to go. And it seemed to me that then and there God spoke to me, by means of that waterfall, telling me that I must keep going, too, for there is indeed someplace for me to go – something yet to do and dare with my life, before it is altogether spent.

Now just watch that waterfall,

Look at its flow;

With no sign of stopping,

Having someplace to go.

As you stand there watching

Now listen to Me:

There’s a lesson to learn here

To set your soul free:

You must keep on moving

And let your life flow

Over life’s rocks

To the place that I show.”

“I’m listening, Lord,

To the wind – and Your voice;

And this is my answer:

‘Your will is my choice.’”

(excerpted from Heading Home by Steve Moore)

Notice that there were rocks. Maybe you feel stuck behind one right now. Ask God to get you over this next challenge and tell Him you’ll trust Him no matter what.

Steve had the right idea. Look to God, trust Him with your life, and choose His way. Now that’s a hopeful future, and a plan that works.

Father,

Thank You that You know exactly what’s going on in my life right now. And, help me to trust You, even if the waterfall seems like it’s damned up somewhere. Your will is what I want. Amen

A Perfect Valentine

by Sue Donaldson

My sister Lori called me from the middle of a snowstorm in Wisconsin to tell me she was going to give a Valentine’s Ladies Brunch. She invited the whole church, naturally- here is her invitation:

You are invited to a Valentine’s Brunch~

Please bring:

A dish- to- pass (Wisconsin for “potluck”) that has something red in it~

A favorite love story to share: movie, book, poem, song, photo~

And, a friend or family member

She expects lots of red jello- it’s Wisconsin. And, being a Moore, she will provide a devotional. She told me she’ll read a favorite children’s story called, Everybody Loves Mr. Hutchinson. When Mr. Hutchinson finds out he’s truly loved, he begins loving others with abandon. Isn’t that a fact? When we feel loved, really and truly, it’s so easy to love another.

Lori said her favorite Scripture on love is the parable of the lost sheep. God is pictured as a Shepherd who drops everything to find the one last sheep. She’ll remind her brunch ladies that if you were the only one, Jesus would have died on the cross. That’s love that’s bigger than a Valentine.

My favorite Valentine-from-God verse is Zephaniah 3:17 ~

"The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with his love, He will rejoice over you with singing."

When you think on that one for a bit, it should make you just want to host a red jello party this Saturday. There’s still time. Lori plans to add sun-dried tomatoes to everything. And, if you make it an afternoon tea, chocolate covered cherries will work just fine.

Oswald Chambers said: “Get into the habit of saying, ‘Speak Lord,’ and life will become a romance.” (January 30, My Utmost for His Highest) Sounds just about right for this Saturday.

Happy Valentine’s!

Father God,

Thank You for loving me, delighting in me, saving me and singing over me. When I rest in your love, I can love others better. Show me how to do just that this coming week. Amen.

Stay Put

by Sue Donaldson

Four weeks ago, I suggested you ask God for your theme verse for 2009. Did you come up with one? (Did you forget to ask? There’s still time – it’s only February.)

Lisa Leonard—of jewelry making fame—recently featured a new design for January: a simple square pendant in which you choose your “word for the year.”

Here’s an excerpt:

“Courage. Dream. Inspire. Breathe. Family. Play. Peace. What will your ‘word of the year’ be?” Check out details at: lisaleonardonline.com

One I came across stood apart from all the others – here it is

“ABIDE”

Most likely a Christian ordered it, don’t you think? It’s not a word an unbeliever bandies about most days. I loved it for its beauty, simplicity, and strong reminder~ I want to abide in Jesus, day-in-and-day-out, not just this year.

The comprehensive passage is John 15. Jesus uses the word abide 9 times in 11 verses (John 15:1-11) –which includes vines and branches and fruit and things that burn—I’ll have my choice of theme verses.

Abide means to “remain” – “dwell” – “stay.” I’ll add “stay put.” And, 4 times he says, “Abide in Me.” It doesn’t help to just stay put – it’s where I place my stay.

I know this passage speaks to my responsibility to stay where I need to be. But, today I’m smiling and grinning and a little teary-eyed just thinking about staying close to my Lord. He’s invited me (and you, too, of course.) And that makes me feel great.

How do you abide?

How do you know you’re in that place, close to His heart?

What brings you there and keeps you there?

What’s your favorite part about it?

Is there a song or phrase that helps you “stay put” in Jesus?

Why don’t you share it—we could all use the reminders (and, I just may need another Lisa Leonard necklace!)

Father,

Thank you for inviting us to abide in You. There’s no other place I’d rather be. Love, Sue