Early in the Morning

“In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice;

In the morning I lay my requests before you

and wait in expectation.” Psalm 5:3

What is it about early morning that makes it easier to draw close to God?

Maybe it’s the quiet peaceful calm before the bustling activity of the day.

Or before the noise of a wide-awake world hurrying to get to the next place, do the next thing, and accomplish the next endeavor clangs into our consciousness.

Or before the demand of the urgent, knocking so loudly, drowns out the still, small whisper of His voice.

Ah! The blissful strengthening balm of early morning moments with Jesus infuses peace and calm and courage. Holy moments bring order to a day that otherwise might deteriorate into chaotic disarray.Priorities are set, perspective is established, and the day comes to order.

The writer of the Gospel of Mark records at least four things that happened early in the morning:

Mark 1:35 Very early, while it was still dark, Jesus went to a solitary place and prayed.

Mark 15:1 Very early in the morning the religious leaders made their plans, bound Jesus and handed Him over to Pilate.

Mark 16:1-2 Very early on the first day of the week the women went to the tomb to anoint the body of Jesus.   

Mark 16:9 Jesus rose from the tomb early on the first day of the week.

Jesus’ work and the devil’s work began early in the morning. It’s best we are with Him at that time of day.  Jesus was praying. He was active. His followers were seeking him!

Satan was active also, filling men’s hearts with evil murderous plans. 

God, I want my day to be ordered by You – my plans to be Your plans.

Early I want to be seeking You.

“O God, You are my God; early will I seek You…” Psalm 63:1(a) NKJV

Birthday Musings

Mom, my brothers, and me.

February is one of those months that make me think of Mom, especially today, my birthday.  I am grateful that she had me, that she didn’t stop having babies after my brothers were born. I remember her telling me that the doctor said if she wanted more children not to delay, so I was born less than two years after my brother Paul. I was her last baby.

I think children never fully appreciate their mothers until they become parents themselves. It’s only then that they know the sacrifices, the love, the pain and the joys of parenthood. Mothers are so often taken for granted. There is the assumption that they will always be there, always available, always know what to do. But that’s not true. Somehow mothers aren’t supposed to feel deeply or wound easily. But they do.

Mothers so often set aside their own desires and needs, putting themselves last for the sake of the children. Mothers don’t always know what to do, can’t always fix everything, and need sleep! They do the best they can and somehow, by the grace of God, the children reach adulthood and the cycle continues.

Today, Mom, I think of you. I wanted to go to your house for roast beef after church. I wanted to tell you how much I love you. I wanted to thank you for everything you did for me all those years. I am grateful. 

Somehow I think you know.  But if not, I’ll see you again someday and I’ll tell you then. 

Won’t Heaven be wonderful!

My Verse and Prayer for today

"For Your lovingkindness is before my eyes, and I have walked in Your truth." Psalm 26:3

Today, Lord, help me to take special notice of Your lovingkindness. All around me I should see (if I pay attention) ways that You act in lovingkindness toward me. Help me keep my eyes on You so that I do not become distracted by worldly endeavors. Please show me where to go, what to do, who to encourage. May I be Your instrument of blessing today.
Please bless those who are discouraged,
Revive the tired,
Comfort the grieving,
Strengthen the weak.
You, Almighty God, are all we need today.
Your arms uphold us,
Your truth guides us,
Your loving kindness envelopes us,
Your grace forgives us,
Your peace sustains us.
Without You we can do nothing,
With You all things are possible.
Thank you, Lord Jesus.
May I be Your obedient servant.
I go now in the confidence of your love.
Amen.

More Treasures to Ponder (Part 2)

If you read my last post of 2015, Treasures to Ponder, you may recall that I ended the year encouraging us to ponder treasured memories as did Mary, the mother of Jesus.
If you haven't read that post, go back and read it!

Luke 2:51 "And his mother treasured all these things in her heart."

To the treasures already stored there:
The angel's pronouncement of the miraculous conception,
Jesus birth in Bethlehem,
Announcement of the heavenly host,
And the arrival of the shepherds,
Mary added even more moments to ponder.
The prophetic words of Simeon, "My eyes have seen the Salvation which thou has prepared in the presence of all peoples, a Light of revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of thy people Israel." (verses 29-35)
The thankful praise of Anna, (verses 36-38)
Jesus' growth in wisdom with the grace of God on Him (verse 40)
His conversations at age 12 with the religious teachers who were amazed at his understanding and his answers (verse 47),
His response to Mary's question, "Son, why have you treated us like this - we've been anxiously looking for you," to which he replied, "Did you not know that I had to be in my Father's house?" (verse 49)

Mary's heart must have been full with the treasures of those first 12 years, as she was continually reminded that the future was totally out of her hands and up to God.
Just like ours!
We have memories to treasure, great things God has already done and mysteries we don't understand. Whether walking through the uncertainties of the here and now, or anxiously looking ahead to the perplexities of the future we can pull the treasures out of the memory box and be assured:

1. He is faithful
2. His Word is Truth
3. His will cannot be thwarted
4. God will make a way

Thank you, Father, for the treasured memories.
You have led us, provided for and protected us.
You have carried us through the valley of the shadow of death and have comforted us.
You have given your peace.
Thank you for the power of your forgiveness, your grace, your love.
Make me more like your Son, Jesus.
As we move ahead into this New year, help me whatever the circumstance to reflect the Son!

As you recall your treasured memories what will your prayer be for 2016?

Happy New Year!
May it be filled with many moments to treasure.

Treasures to Ponder

Luke 2:19 "But Mary treasured up all these things, pondering them in her heart."

For generations Mothers have stored treasures in their hearts, thoughtfully pondering significant moments in their lives. 

Mary had many things to ponder:

The strange course her life had suddenly taken as she was chosen to bear the Messiah, 

The message of the Angel, 

The pregnancy of cousin Elisabeth, 

The dream of Joseph, 

The unusual call for a worldwide census prompting the trip to Bethlehem,

The visit of the shepherds who, in response to an angelic choir, came seeking the newborn child. 

And I wonder -

What are some of the things I treasure in my heart?
What causes me to ponder?

The older I get the more treasures accumulate, until I sometimes think my heart cannot possibly hold any more.

Memories from my early years at the Bible Camp my father directed,

Fun in our family home at the foot of the mountain,

Youth for Christ choir,

Church youth group,

Nursing school,

Meeting my husband, Pete, and the journey we've taken as a married couple - from PA to Illinois, to Tennessee, back to PA, to Nigeria, to PA, to Kenya, and to Kansas - each stop filled with moments to treasure and to ponder.

God's provision

God's protection

God's direction

The hurts

The healings

The helps

And with the birth of each of our children and grandchildren came many more moments to treasure and to ponder.
Each child, a unique treasure, dearly loved and wanted. 

Each memory like a shining pearl on a strand of best-loved pearls.

Sometimes life gets so crazy and hectic that we don't take time to ponder. 

Maybe now - in this last third of my life - it is good to think back, to remember and to recount, to lift my voice in thankful praise to God - who in His miraculous grace and mercy - gave me much to treasure.

How about you? What treasures will you ponder?

O Come let us adore him….

  

 First written in Latin in the 1700’s, the words of the carol, O Come All Ye Faithful, still resound throughout the world as Christians gather to celebrate the birth of Christ.  

I looked up the word “adore” and found this meaning:  ‘to worship or honor as a deity or as divine, to regard with loving admiration and devotion, to love or admire someone very much, to take great pleasure in.” (Merriam Webster online dictionary)

So when we sing the refrain we are saying, ‘Come let us worship Him, let us give him honor, let us recognize that He is divine! Let us admire Him with unhesitating devotion’.  And I wonder if we really mean what we sing.

Jesus said if you love me you will do what I say. So if I truly adore Him my life will reflect a humble obedience to His lordship in my life.

Ah, so what is there about Him to adore?  I challenge you this Christmas season to make an A-B-C list of qualities you admire about the Lord Jesus. Maybe it could be a family activity.

Here are some ideas to get you started.

He is Almighty, Benevolent, Compassionate, Defender …

What will your list look like?

  

“And when they were come into the house, they saw the young child with Mary his mother,

and fell down, and worshiped him.”  Matthew 2:11a

Happy Birthday, Dad!

Dad and Mom Haken with the Grandkids

Today was my Dad’s birthday. He’s been gone 25 years already and I still miss him.

I can still hear him praying with me on the telephone whenever we talked.

I remember him witnessing to the nursing staff when he was in the hospital having chemo.

I remember him telling me from his hospital bed that I "married a good man.”

His love for people was only exceeded by his love for God. Although as a child I did not always appreciate it, I remember him reading the Bible at the table after supper and leading the family in prayer. I remember hearing him pray out loud with Mom in their bedroom at night and hearing my name as they prayed for us kids.

I remember him bringing unexpected guests home to have a meal with us, often at the last minute. I remember his love for missionaries and mission work.

I remember how much people loved his Bible teaching and I recall the hours he would spend in his downstairs study preparing. I remember how much he loved doing “the Lord’s work.” No task was too menial or too great – whether cleaning gutters at the Bible Camp, or preaching from the pulpit at various churches, or visiting the sick and imprisoned, or counseling those in troubled marriages, or leading a board meeting – it was all the Lord’s.

And I wonder why God took him so early? Why after only 68 years? And I don’t know.

Had he lived we would have celebrated his 93^rd birthday today. But he is more alive now than ever before because he believed it when God said, “I give unto them eternal life and they shall never perish” and “Whoever has the Son has life.”

So, Happy Birthday, Dad. I couldn’t have asked for a better Father. God blessed me when He put me in your family. I love you.  (And yes, I still remember that you didn’t put up with us showing any disrespect to our mother. J)

And I sometimes wonder what my children will remember about me when I am gone.  What will yours?

Thanks Giving

O give thanks unto the Lord; 

call upon his name:

make known his deeds among the people. 

Psalm 105:1

In light of current world events, we are surrounded by people who are deeply disheartened and fearful. The political climate is hostile, the social atmosphere is antagonistic and culturally we are way outside the box of our forefathers' world. 

And now, in the middle of the chaos, many will gather next Thursday to commemorate an earlier time in history.  And sometimes those gatherings can turn into disagreeable and tense discussions sadly lacking in the hoped-for climate of peace and thankfulness. 

The first Thanksgiving was a celebration of life, survival, harvest, provision, protection, a new start in a new land in the midst of hardship and suffering.  But today, what is there to celebrate? 

Thanksgiving is and always was God's idea. These words of the Psalmist give an outline for a truly wonderful Thanksgiving Day agenda. 

1. "Give thanks unto the Lord."

Thank him for his presence and his provision.

If you're stuck for ideas try making an A-Z list.

And be grateful!

2. Pray  - "Call upon His name"  

Prayer has become unpopular - even forbidden in some venues. Yet what greater way to have a thankful heart than to go to the Giver of life in prayer!

3. Tell - "Make known his deeds among the people."
So, what has He done? 

Who can you tell?

As you celebrate Thanksgiving this year, help steer the course of conversation toward thankfulness. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

"In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." 1 Thessalonians 5:18

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood.

It's a beautiful day here in Kansas this morning. 

Birds are hopping around the bird feeder on the deck 

and I just picked these from my garden in the front yard.  

I have a steaming cup of coffee in front of me,

made with my favorite creamer, coconut, of course.

  

 The sun is streaming through the glass of the patio doors 

and the Christmas Cactus is getting ready to bloom.

I just got off a good long phone call with my daughter-in-law (so fun to chat with her)

and am looking forward to some Skype time with my daughter and family in Austria. 

Hardly feels like November in Kansas - especially as the weather man 

just predicted snow in some neighboring areas.

It's easy to find my heart rejoicing on a day like this. 

But what about later, 

when the ice and snow hits, 

health fails, and the energy wanes?

How will I feel when relationships struggle or bad news arrives?

Will I be grateful and rejoicing then? 

I hope so. But just in case, I'm going to post something to help me remember. This is what the prophet Habakkuk said about rejoicing in the down times:

Habakkuk 3:17-18 Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, 

I will joy in the God of my salvation.

So, today, a gorgeous fall day here in Kansas, I rejoice. 

And later when winter hits, I'll choose joy. 

How about you?

 

Keep Standing

What a time to be alive! We are surrounded by pain, death, and destruction, anger and hostility, prejudice and race baiting, rebellion and defiance, genocide, infanticide, homicides of every kind, burglaries, corruption, and lies.  Massacres, beheadings, random killings, and suicides are on the increase, while baby body parts are for sale in the name of research.  Right is called wrong and wrong is called right. Legality is called unfair and illegal activity is called showing compassion. Tolerance is demanded but only for those deemed politically correct. The Bible is discounted, the constitution reinterpreted, and history rewritten.  False religion is catered to, while Christianity is penalized.  Hard honest work is demeaned and laziness rewarded. Age is disrespected, youth is worshiped. Past history is vilified or denied. What’s newest, biggest, best is glorified. Honesty and integrity have no value. Leaders are not held accountable and wolves in sheep’s clothing are leading their flocks to destruction.

Who would have ever imagined a world like this?

How does one stand against the tidal wave of sludge?

In 1922 Helen Lemmel penned these words:

O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free!

Refrain:
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
and the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.

Through death into life everlasting
He passed, and we follow Him there;
O’er us sin no more hath dominion—
For more than conqu’rors we are!

His Word shall not fail you—He promised;
Believe Him, and all will be well:
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell!

That’s the key. That’s how we stand in a world gone awry. We stand with eyes fixed on Jesus, his peace ruling in our hearts, his word dwelling in us richly,  doing all to his glory,  and clinging to his great and precious promises.

For an extra dose of encouragement read Hebrews 12:1-3; Colossians 3:15-17; 2 Peter 1:3-4. And while you’re at it, try singing the words of Helen Lemmel’s song, “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus.”

Have a blessed day!

The Exchange

Early this morning, while looking at this plaque on my wall, my thoughts turned to an old hymn. There is such great theology found in many of the old hymns. 

It's a wonder they are so seldom heard or sung anymore. 

What a Friend We Have in Jesus

Lyrics: Joseph M. Scriven, 1820-1886

Music: Charles C. Converse, 1832-1918 

What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear! 

What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer!
O what peace we often forfeit, O what needless pain we bear,
all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

Have we trials and temptations? Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Can we find a friend so faithful who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness; take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy laden, cumbered with a load of care?
Precious Savior, still our refuge; take it to the Lord in prayer.
Do thy friends despise, forsake thee? Take it to the Lord in prayer!
In his arms he'll take and shield thee; thou wilt find a solace there. 

What a trade-off: My cares for His peace. 

Sounds like a good exchange to me! 

Should God bless America?

In a culture that discounts God, it has become popular to tag the benediction, “God bless America,” at the end of speeches.

But why should He?

In the Bible, blessing of God was conditionally promised

• In response to obedience to Him. (See Genesis 22:18, Deut. 7:12-14,  Deut. 11:26-29, Deut. 15:4-6, Deut. 28:1-13, Deut. 30:16)
• In response to proper and sincere worship of Him. (Ex. 23:24-26)
• To those who were generous toward the poor and who cared for the vulnerable. (Deut. 15:9-11, Deut. 24:19, Proverbs 14:21, Proverbs 22:9)
• When others are treated with compassion (Deut. 15:17-19, Deut. 23:20, Psalm 41:1).
• To those who delight in God’s Word and don’t take ungodly counsel. (Psalm 1)
• To those who take refuge in Him (Psalm 2:12, Psalm 34:8)
• To the righteous (Psalm 5:12)
• To the nation whose God is the Lord. (Psalm 33:12)
• To those who trust in God. (Psalm 40:4, Psalm 84:12, Proverbs 16:20, Jeremiah 17:7)
• To those who walk with Him. (Psalm 89:15-16)
• To those who act justly and always do what is right. (Psalm 106:3)
• To those who fear God and find great delight in His commands. (Psalm 112:1-3, Psalm 115:13, Psalm 128:1,4)
• To the blameless, who walk according to the law of the Lord, who keep His statutes and seek Him with all their hearts. (Psalm 119:1, 2)
• To those whose hope is in the Lord. (Psalm 146:5)
• To those who wait for Him (Isaiah 30:18)
• To the poor in spirit, the mourners, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, those who are insulted and falsely accused on account of Christ (Matthew 5:3-11)
• To those who call on the name of the Lord (Romans 10:12,13)
• To those who rely on faith (Galatians 3:9)
• To those who bless Israel. (Genesis 2:2,3)

      So, how do we stack up?

We have thrown God out of our schools, our history books, our families, our courts, and our government. We remove and disregard His commands, and disrespect His Word. With self ruling on the throne of our hearts, we worship idols of pleasure and entertainment. We have allowed the slaughter of millions of the most vulnerable. We worry about offending everyone except God. Wrong is called right, and right is criminalized. Prayer is disallowed unless we are in big trouble or when we think we should get blessing.

Why should He bless us?

But maybe, just maybe, it’s not too late.

2 Chronicles 7:14 If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

God, have mercy.