Slow down ...

December seems to have arrived at record speed this year!

I’m amazed that as I age the seasons seem to rocket past. Or is it just me?

I remember, as a child, days of seemingly agonizing anticipation waiting for certain days or events to arrive. Birthdays, Christmas, school holidays, vacations took FOR . EV .  ER to get here, and then were quickly gone.

But now?

Now I just want to slow down the clock and savor each delicious moment.

Why is that? Why do we reach this life stage before recognizing the value of each and every day?

Perhaps, just perhaps, that is what it was like for those who waited and longed for the coming of the Messiah. Agonizing, endless waiting for the fulfillment of a promise made to generations past. He would come. The Redeemer - to Rescue and Deliver. He would Restore Peace once again - Peace between God and man.

And then…He came!

It happened in a blink.

He came, and He went – mostly unrecognized, unacknowledged and unwanted.

 

He was the Savior promised so long ago.

The One who came to seek and to save the lost. (Luke 19:10)

To save His people from their sins. (Matthew 1:21)

Immanuel. God with us. (Matthew 1:23)

 

Once a year His birth is celebrated around the world with parties and programs, shopping and gift exchanges, food, and friends, and family. And sometimes we stop to remember that it all started with a promise.

“Behold a virgin will be with child and bear a son, and she will call his name Immanuel” (Isaiah 7:14)

 

Let’s stop and savor the moment,

And remember that it’s really all about Him!

 

Merry Christmas.

I REMEMBER

I REMEMBER…

...As a child waking up to wonderful smells of sautéed onion and celery, sage and poultry seasoning and turkey already roasting in the oven. Mom would get up in “the wee hours of the morning” to get Thanksgiving dinner started.

…Family gatherings around the table, eating off the “good dishes,” expressing thanks to God for His many blessings.

… Cleaning up and doing dishes together afterwards (no dishwasher) everyone pitching in to help.

… Walks after dinner to “make room for dessert.”

… Playing football outside in the yard with whoever would play.

…Cold turkey sandwiches from leftovers. Yum!

… The time we went to our Aunt’s house in Philadelphia for the meal, after which my teenage brother told our Aunt that was the first time he was ever full!  We all cracked up, but Mom acted mortified!

…Watching the Parade on TV, looking for the next huge balloon to go by.

…Starting our own family and carrying on the traditions. Going back home and sitting around Mom’s table with Mom and Dad, my adult brothers and their families, and whoever else happened to be there that year.

… The years we were in Africa and unable to be “home” for the family gatherings. Mom and Dad would put the Cassette Tape Player on the table while they ate so everyone could talk to us and we could be part of the day. Mostly we heard the clanking of silverware, laughter and “Pass the stuffing,” interspersed every so often with Mom saying, “Say something to Ruth and Pete!” Some weeks later we would get the cassette in the mail, listen to it, tape over it and send it back.  

…Trying to find a turkey to keep the tradition going, sometimes settling on a chicken we raised ourselves.

…Teaching our own children about The First Thanksgiving while living in a foreign country, even though there it was just another day with school and work as usual.

… Gathering with other American Expats, also away from their families, to celebrate together.

… Passing around notecards so we could write some reasons we are thankful for each other.

…“Football” outside in the yard but now it was Soccer.

 

THINGS CHANGE OVER TIME.

Children marry, move away, and start their own family traditions. We have to share them now just like our parents had to share us. This makes the times we are together just that much more special. Now there’s texting or Skype instead of cassette tapes, and no need to wait weeks for the tape to come in the mail so we can hear their voices.

BUT SOME THINGS DON'T CHANGE.

There’s still turkey and stuffing, plenty to eat, cleaning up afterward and maybe a walk to “make room for dessert.”  

AND ALWAYS,

no matter where we are
or who we’re with,
there are reasons to give thanks!

Happy Thanksgiving!

“Now, our God, we give you thanks, and praise your glorious name.” 1 Chronicles 29:13 (NIV)

Let Go

Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

 

That night I woke up multiple times with this verse going through my mind. I didn’t know why, and I still don’t.

It has been a stressful couple of months. First the symptoms driving him to the doctor, emergency room and the specialist. Then the verdict, ‘You need a biopsy.’ We were leaving for Austria in 2 days so the biopsy was scheduled for 2 weeks after we returned – 1 month from the day we knew he needed one.

It was a great trip and a wonderful visit with family. The only pall overshadowing the trip was the knowledge that it could be his last.

With the biopsy came a diagnosis leading to surgery. Cancer is never welcome – It sneaks in subtly, insidiously, when you least expect it, inconvenient, uninvited and unwelcomed. Surgery was scheduled and performed. A 2 day hospital stay turned into 6. Afterwards a favorable pathology report gave us the best possible news, the cancer was non-invasive. Some preventive life-style changes were recommended and frequent follow-up visits would keep us apprised of any recurrence. No chemo would be needed!

So now why, after all that and with him recuperating at home, did I find myself wakeful with 1 Peter 5:7 running through my mind?

The very next morning the verse of the day popped up on my phone screen and guess what it was? Yes, 1 Peter 5:7! It almost made me laugh out loud.

I looked up the word “cast.”  Then I looked up the verse to get its context.

The previous verse reads, “Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.”

Ok, Lord, I get the message. It is only in rolling my burdens on you, letting loose of them by throwing them onto the shoulders of the God of the universe and not trying to handle things on my own, that I can come in complete humility and dependency acknowledging your sovereignty over every single area of my life.

Every. Single. Area.

And when I do, when I let go and stop carrying burdens myself, I find your strength sustaining me and I can rest.

Cast your burden on the Lord, And He shall sustain you;

He shall never permit the righteous to be moved.

Psalm 55:22

More than a Declaration

Near the end of his life, Joshua gave a farewell address to the people of Israel. You can read it for yourself in Joshua chapters 23, 24. He reminded them that God had been fighting FOR them. He challenged them to:

Cling to the Lord.

Love the Lord.
Fear the Lord.
Serve the Lord.
Choose Him.
Obey Him.
Incline their hearts to Him.

Loving God is ACTIVE, not passive.

It involves choosing,
Following,
Serving,
Obeying,
Fearing,
Turning away from things of the world that distract us from Him,
Turning to Him in wholehearted adoration and worship.

To love God is more than just a decision or a declaration or a profession.

It is a putting OFF and a putting ON,
A turning FROM and a turning TO,
Running the race in pursuit of the goal,
Giving one’s life in the service of the Master,
Choosing His way over my way,
His thoughts over my thoughts,
His way over my will,
His Word over the world.
It is choosing THIS day and EVERY DAY to serve Him,
To choose life – HIS life,

Father God,

This day, today I again choose You!
Help me make choices that honor you.
Keep me from being distracted by anything that would draw me away from your will for me today.
Amen.

One Day at a Time

In a recent radio broadcast Dr. David Jeremiah was teaching about the prophet, Elijah. In the course of the message he said, “If God gave the widow a full barrel of flour (enough to last through the famine) she would learn to trust in the barrel instead of in God.” (You can find the details of the miracle in 1 Kings 17:8-16)

 

This brought to my mind these lyrics by Marijohn Wilkin, 1974 

“One Day at a time, Sweet Jesus, that’s all I’m asking of you.

Just give me the strength to do every day what I have to do.

Yesterday’s gone, Sweet Jesus, and tomorrow may never be mine,

Lord, help me today, show me the way, one day at a time.” 

Or how about this classic hymn, written by Swedish hymnist Lina Sandell Berg (1832-1903)

“Day by day and with each passing moment

Strength I find to meet my trials here.
Trusting in my Father’s wise bestowment
I’ve no cause for worry or for fear.
He whose heart is kind beyond all measure
Gives unto each day what He deems best,
Lovingly it’s part of pain and pleasure
Mingling toil with peace and rest.”

The widow in the Bible did not get a full barrel of flour. What she did get was strength for each day

– one day at a time! But she only received the strength and the nourishment when each day she went to the pantry and dipped into the barrel.

 So we are promised strength for each day. But we need to go to the source daily to receive from His abundance exactly what is needed. Grace, direction, inspiration, forgiveness, comfort, mercy – whatever the need He provides! When I try to manage on my own, to conjure up my own solution, I go away hungry, weak and unsatisfied.

Father,

Forgive me for those times I doubt your provision and think I can manage on my own.
Help me each day to drink from the water of your Word,
to feast on the meat of the Word
and to rely on Your provision and strength for each day –
one day at a time.
Amen

Special Fathers

On this Fathers’ Day I pay tribute to some special fathers. 

• To my own Father, William B. Haken, who shaped my life in amazing ways. He taught me so much about living unselfishly and working hard. He loved God, Mother, family and others. He took care of many others often going above and beyond to be available to those in need. His counsel was wise and his teaching inspired. He lived out the words of Colossians 3:23, “Whatever you do, do it heartily as to the Lord and not unto men.” God took him early, age 68, and I still miss him.
• To my Father-in-law, Clyde Cowles, without whom I would not have my wonderful husband of (almost) 44 years. God took him at the age of 56 so we did not have much time together, but I am eternally grateful to him and still very much in love with his son, Peter.
• To my husband, Pete. You swept me off my feet and took me on a world of adventure – to live in Chicago, Tennessee, Nigeria, Kenya, PA and Kansas – and to travels in Switzerland, Germany, Austria and coast to coast in the United States. You taught our children so much about life and hard work. You led our family with faithfulness, steadfastness and firm resolve. You stayed true to your values and instilled them in your children. I could have no better father for our children.
• And a special tribute to Peter, Tim and Markus, the fathers of our seven grandchildren. You are showing your children what it means to be loving fathers and faithful husbands, men of integrity who work hard and are loyal to God and to your family. One day your sons will be honorable young men and your daughters will know what to look for in a man because of your examples. I am so proud of each of you and grateful that we are family. 

So Happy Fathers’ Day to each of these special men! I am so grateful that God put you into my life and into my heart. You are loved.

The Gift of Mom

I thank God for the gift of my Mom.

Her love for Him and her obedience to His Word are forever an example to me

of a woman who walked with God.

She was independent yet submitted to the leadership of our Dad

because she trusted God to guide him.

She was strong, yet yielding and flexible.

Her life was marked by honesty and integrity.

Generosity and hospitality touched those in her sphere of influence.

She was faithful and loyal to God, family, friends and country.

She was stoic and brave, bold yet kind.

And she loved us fiercely,

     supported us unselfishly,

          disciplined us kindly

               and taught us Biblically.

Her life inspired, motivated and encouraged me to be who I am.

In the years she's been gone I think of her often... 

and miss her always.

In the 3 week period which includes the day of her passing, her birthday, and Mothers' Day

I reflect on the woman she was

and I thank God for blessing me with her.

I love you, Mom. 

Glorious Day

Yesterday was a cloudy, gloomy, blustery, cold and oppressive sort of day.

Seems like there have been a lot of them lately.

I miss the SUN. 

But today! What a difference!

It’s a clear, bright day without a cloud in the sky.

Sunlight is streaming through the windows.

The air is crisp, still, peaceful, calm.

Even the colors seem more vivid.

I feel my spirits lifting even as I type these words.

I got to thinking about what a difference a day makes.

And I thought of Heaven.

This world we are living in is like living in a fog -

oppressive, gloomy and gray, blurry and indistinct.

But one day!

Oh! On that day,

When we see Jesus,

the difference will be astonishing,

everything will become clear -

colors brighter, distinct, glorious

and shining with the radiance of the SON!  

“For now we see through a glass darkly, but then face to face. Now we know in part, but then we shall know even as we are known.” 1 Corinthians 13:12 

 "What A Day That Will Be"  - by Jim Hill.

There is coming a day when no heartaches shall come

No more clouds in the sky, no more tears to dim the eye

All is peace forevermore on that happy golden shore,

What a day, glorious day that will be!

What a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see,

And I look upon His face, the One who saved me by His grace;

When He takes me by the hand and leads me through the Promised Land

What a day, glorious day that will be!

There'll be no sorrow there, no more burdens to bear,

No more sickness, no pain, no more parting over there;

And forever I will be with the One who died for me,

What a day, glorious day that will be!

When that day comes, I know where I’ll be.

And up there, friends, the SON is always shining!

Blessings,

Ruth 🎔

LIFE

 Signs of LIFE greet us as trees bud and Spring flowers lift their heads skyward.                          

This time of year is always welcome after the cold stark winter weather.

LIFE

A beautiful word! 

Living
Invigorating
Fulfilling
Energizing
LIFE

It feels good to get out into the garden and clear away the dead remnants of the winter, to prepare the soil for the emergence of new growth, to plant and water and watch.

But so many people are walking around with dead barrenness of the soul, when they could be experiencing LIFE!

This is the message of Easter! Jesus died and rose again so that we could have LIFE, and have it more abundantly! (John 10:10) He came to make us ALIVE when we were dead in trespasses and sins. (Ephesians 2:1) At the tomb of Lazarus Jesus said to Martha, “I am the resurrection and the LIFE. He who believes in Me, though he may die, yet shall he LIVE.” (John 11:25) And in the words of the most well-known of all Scriptures John writes, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting LIFE.” (John 3:15). “The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal LIFE through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Romans 3:23) From His death on the cross, and the power of the resurrection comes the hope of eternal LIFE. And it’s all because of Jesus!

It’s a choice. This Easter choose LIFE!

Pass it On

“… and there arose another generation after them who did not know the Lord, nor yet the work which He had done for Israel.” (Judges 2:10) 

Joshua, leader of Israel, and all his generation died. And the next generation did not know the Lord or even what He had done for them!  

Astonishing, isn’t it?  Why didn’t they know? 

They degenerated into a nation where everyone “did what was right in his own eyes.” They forsook God, bowed down to the gods around them, and so angered the Lord that He turned His hand against them “so that they could no longer stand against their enemies.” (Judges 2:11-15) 

Joshua had told them to pass the stories down. He established memorials as reminders so that when the children would ask questions the parents would tell them about the Lord. (Joshua 4:4-7; 20-24).The people said they would serve the Lord and live in obedience to Him, and Joshua set up another memorial as a visual reminder of their commitment. (Joshua 24:14-24) 

So why didn’t their children know? 

Had they not passed down the stories of their ancestors’ miraculous delivery from Egypt, the Red Sea crossing, the manna and water by which God nourished the travelers, His protection along the journey? Had the younger generation not heard how the walls of Jericho fell or that the Jordan River stopped flowing long enough for their fathers to cross over? 

Who dropped the ball? Who stopped telling? 

And now, today, we see what is happening around us and we wonder why God is not revered and worshiped - why there is such a humanistic, self-reliant, godless philosophy pervading every aspect of society – why Christianity and Biblical principles are foreign, even offensive, to the next generation. 

When did we stop telling our children what God did in our own lives? Why did we allow the memorials to be taken down, the Bible to be thrown out, and God removed from our institutions of government and higher learning? When did we become so busy living that we stopped teaching the true life lessons? 

Another generation has arisen who “does not know the Lord nor yet the work which He had done” and perhaps that fault lay with us. Is it too late?

Pass on the stories of God’s deliverance. Give hope to the despairing. Comfort the sorrowing. Point them to Jesus and never ever stop telling the next generation the wonderful works of the Lord. 

 “Things we have heard and known things our ancestors have told us. We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done.” Psalm 78:3-4

Thanks, Mom.

This morning as I drove to meet friends for a birthday breakfast I found myself thinking about my mom. On birthdays we should remember and celebrate the mother who carried us, then brought us into the world at great pains to herself.

And we should be thankful.  

I thought about the sacrifices mom made, the love she gave, and the lessons she taught. Some of those lessons I didn’t fully appreciate until many birthdays had passed.

I remembered how strange it was the last couple years that she didn’t even know when my birthday was! And how I felt those last months when it was my turn to care for her right up until the moment she took her last breath and met her Savior face to face.

I would do it all over again.

Today I miss her.  

And I thank God for her.

I wish I could tell her.

But somehow I think she knows.  

Face to Face

On Christmas day, 2017, a former co-worker met her Savior face to face.
It had to have been a joyous moment –
seeing the One who died for her so her sins could be forgiven,
the One who had gone to prepare a place for her.
She is experiencing what we someday hope to experience -
leaving behind her fears and failings, her disappointments, her work, her sickness and pain.
For her there is no more political instability, economic uncertainty, or threat of religious persecution. There is joy, peace, rest and delightful reunions with loved ones who passed on before her.
She worships at the throne of the One whose love never fails.

But for those who remain behind the place will not be same.
Every absence of a loved one leaves a void, a gap we can return to time and time again to remember, to mourn, to laugh, to reflect, to love.
Did we sometimes have different opinions about projects and procedures? Absolutely!
Did we sometimes disagree? You betcha!
But those times are forgotten and insignificant in light of the loss of a friend, a beloved peer.

So, entering into 2018 I take these thoughts with me:

1. Be present in the moment. We don’t know how many moments there will be.
2. Love those around me while overlooking petty differences.
3. Be a blessing to those whose lives intersect with mine.
4. Spend time with each other.
5. Do the important things.
6. Finish well.

Teena, you were loved and you will be missed, until we, too, see Him face to face.
We were blessed to know you.

The hymnwriter, Carrie E. Breck, expressed her thoughts this way:
in the hymn entitled, Face to Face, (1898).

Face to face with Christ, my Savior,
Face to face—what will it be,
When with rapture I behold Him,
Jesus Christ who died for me?
    
Refrain:
Face to face I shall behold Him,
Far beyond the starry sky;
Face to face in all His glory,
I shall see Him by and by!

What rejoicing in His presence,
When are banished grief and pain;
Death is swallowed up in vict’ry,
And the dark things shall be plain.

Face to face—oh, blissful moment!
Face to face—to see and know;
Face to face with my Redeemer,
Jesus Christ who loves me so.