Keep Your Lamps Burning

The World of Queue

I recently read that the average person will spend about three years of life waiting in line. There are all types of lines to wait in. For example: amusement parks, grocery stores, the DMV, doctor’s offices, restaurants and of course the much loved automated phone systems. Please press two.

This statistic wasn’t too surprising. I was a little taken aback, however, when I discovered that waiting in line has developed an entire industry. These queues (lines of waiting people) involve everything from telecommunications to traffic flow. Queuing theory is the mathematical study of waiting in line. I’m not making this up. An industry has evolved whose primary purpose it is to cut down the time in lines and to keep us happy while we are waiting. It seems we are happier if we are being entertained, informed or in some way distracted while we wait.

I’ve been fortunate. I haven’t had to endure the world of queue much lately. My last big wait was for spring. For no particular reason this past winter seemed to be very long and spring teased and sneaked its way in between the snow squalls.

It’s now June 1st and I am convinced that this is spring. The days are pleasant with cooler evening and mornings. There’s not much threat of snow and it’s raining more than usual. April 1st I started noticing the first signs of spring. Green blades of grass poked through the dead lawn and the early birds were growing restless. I began my annual ritual of awaiting the bloom of the lilac tree. The full light purple blossoms are a treat to my eyes and the sweet aroma is a gift from God. I decided to record its progress. At first there was little or no sign of advancement. However, I knew that on the inside it was changing.

This is not the first time that I’ve waited for signs of change. If you’ve ever told anyone about your faith in Jesus, you’ve probably hoped for results. If you’ve ever offered the world’s greatest advice or tried to make a difference in a life through teaching, loving, praying, or coaching you may know the angst that sometimes follows as you wait for results. And if you're a praying person you know what it's like to wait on the Lord.

I find that I don’t always get to see the changes taking place beneath the surface. I am simply asked to be obedient. I can plant and water, but God does the real work in his time as only he can do it. I just have to except that change is taking place weather I can see it or not, just like with the lilacs.

Not being able to see or know everything that I may want to also has benefits. It plants faith and makes it grow. Because I am given faith I am given hope and I have no desire to live in a world without hope. “We who have run for our very lives to God have every reason to grab the promised hope with both hands and never let go. It's an unbreakable spiritual lifeline, reaching past all appearances right to the very presence of God where Jesus, running on ahead of us, has taken up his permanent post as high priest for us.
(Hebrew 6: 18-20 The Message)

The Bible talks a lot about waiting. It tells about waiting patiently (Romans 8:25), waiting in hope (Psalm33:20), waiting eagerly. (1 Corinthians 1:7), and waiting to the point of embarrassment (Judges 3:25). “God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built.” (1 Peter 3:20)

As God’s children we are called to wait. Romans 8:23 says, “Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.” Psalm 27:14 says, “Wait for the LORD, be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.”

God’s Queuing System

I believe God has a queuing system of his own. His is not a systematic plan of distraction but of use and purpose. We are not to sit motionless, tapping our fingers with impatience and boredom. “We hear that some among you are idle. They are not busy; they are busybodies.” (2 Thessalonians 3:11)

The Bible is full of things to do while we wait for the LORD. Luke12:35-37 sums it up pretty well. "Be dressed ready for service and keep your lamps burning, like men waiting for their master to return from a wedding banquet, so that when he comes and knocks they can immediately open the door for him. It will be good for those servants whose master finds them watching when he comes. I tell you the truth, he will dress himself to serve, will have them recline at the table and will come and wait on them."

Psalm 37:3-7 gives some great advice on how to keep the lamps burning. “Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit you way to the LORD; Trust in him and he will do this. He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun. Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him;”

They waited for me as for showers and drank in my words as the spring rain." Job 29:23

- Lisa

Up Hill Both Ways

Up Hill Both Ways

Have you traveled the up hill slopes of life? I know that I have. My up hill treks vary in length and their degrees of steepness. In some aspects of life I seem to be continually straining upward and yet never ascending. I've done it enough to know that up hill exercises on stationary paths are exhausting and fruitless.

Ahh, how I have longed to hear, “Well done, it’ll be all down hill from here.” However, God makes me no such promise. He promises peace when my mind is steadfast on him (Isaiah 26:3) and He promises to make me steadfast (1 Peter 5:10). He promises rest when I am weary (Matthew 11:28), and direction when I acknowledge Him (Proverbs 3:6). He supplies a sufficient amount of grace (2 Corinthians 12:9) and promises to go before me and with me and to never leave me or forsake me (Deut. 31:8). Even equipped with all that I could ever need or want I still find that the journey is not always easy. I still

tend to wander off in my own direction and wonder why part of the walk seems to be an up hill battle . . . both ways.

Tests

John 6:5-6
"When Jesus looked up and saw a great crowd coming toward him, he said to Philip, "Where shall we buy bread for these people to eat?" He asked this only to test him, for he already had in mind what he was going to do.

Life is full of tests. I’ve heard it said that life is a test. All of the answers have multiple choices. In all of our circumstances we will act or react. We will say something or pray something

I am convinced that God is not waiting anxiously to see what my response will be to any given trial or temptation. I do not believe He is surprised by my weaknesses, strengths, growing spurts or back slides. He already knows. Why all the testing, trials, and tribulations then. They are always honing and refining experiences. They give me a report on my progress or lack thereof. God, in His perfect wisdom, gives me a snapshot of areas in out relationship, humbles me, lifts me up and infinitely gives me another chance to get it right.

Some lessons seem pretty cut and dry. Choices are made and consequences, both good and bad, are received. It’s the proverbial routine of live and learn. God, as I am growing to know Him, is anything but routine and predictable. By nature, I tend to attempt a viable understanding of God’s system of weights and measure. Grace is free and God does not play favorites in any circumstances. His thoughts are not our thoughts and His ways are not our ways. (Romans 2:11; Isaiah 55:8)

Shortcuts

I know (Romans 8: 38-39) and am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Still, I have seen caught myself trying to tip the scales. I don’t think it’s conscious. I have seen my attempts to drag the “give more and hope to get more” mentality of the world into my relationship with Him. It occurred to me that I have a desire to take shortcuts.

Romans 8:28-31 says: “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified. What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?

With all of this going on, I’m looking for shortcuts. It sometimes amazes me that God would give me the time of day. But he does. All the time of every day, day after day, without fail. I am grateful that I don’t get what I deserve nor do I deserve anything that He gives.

And still I know I have plenty of good hearted, well intentioned company when I say there are times when I would prefer to have my own way. I long to understand the inconceivable character of God. I think there are times when my faith in His infinite ability magnifies the implausible “why” questions.

Focusing on the “whys” of the inconceivable rattles my faith and alters my prayers. It affects my relationship with my savior and leads to the temptation to take matters into my own hands.

I have found this is generally the starting point for walking up hills both ways rather than allowing Him to guide me gently down the other side.

Deut. 8:1-3

Do Not Forget the LORD

1 Be careful to follow every command I am giving you today, so that you may live and increase and may enter and possess the land that the LORD promised on oath to your forefathers. 2 Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. 3 He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD.

Colorado Christian Writers Conference

I have just returned from a six day “cloud seeding” extravaganza in the rocky mountains of Colorado. The Colorado Christian Writers Conference, held annually in Estes Park, is a convergence of writers, editors, publishers, and others from the writing industry.

My soul was nourished in so many ways. Gathering with a couple hundred people with similar goals and faith has a way of calming and stirring the desires of my heart at the same time. I think it is comparable to putting your hopes, dreams, prayers, petitions and praises in a pot together, bring to a rapid boil, reduce heat, and simmer.

To a writer there is maybe nothing more desirable than to present your message with truth and grace in God’s perfect timing. This was a common theme throughout the conference. Saturated with thoughts like these, standing on the ground among the elk, looking up at mountain peaks that extend into the clouds, my faith was elevated. It’s inevitable. The scenery demands that I remember how small I am and how awesome God is.

I am amazed by the willingness of the staff to share their knowledge and their know-how with others. All of the people I talked with and met with were willing to go above and beyond their call to duty. My continuing session workshop, Communicate to Change Lives, was lead by Jim Watkins. If you are a speaker, writer, or in some other way wish to communicate to change lives I encourage you to visit his website at jameswatkins.com and check out his newest book, “Communicate to Change Lives in person and print.”

I will be sharing some of my ponderings and experiences from the conference over the next couple weeks on this blog.

Have a great day and thanks for stopping in - Lisa

Celebrate

Psalm 118:24
This is the day the LORD has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Every new day is a cause for celebration. I'm feeling particularly celebratory lately. It's one of those times when it's easy to have an attitude of gratitude.

Spring seems to finally have sprung. It's been a long anticipated season.
My oldest son is coming home from his first year of college this week. I am so excited to have him back home. Sending him off was harder than I ever had imagined. I've grown and groaned a lot in the process.

In a couple weeks I am heading to the Colorado Christian Writers Conference. I'm so excited about the prospect of meeting new people with a common interest. There will be instruction and worship and scenery that you would have to see to believe.

I've just become a team captain in our local Relay for Life event (through the American Cancer Society). I'm really excited about the opportunity and the privilege to play even the smallest role in this annual fund raiser.

I could also make a list of things which I am not so apt to celebrate. It's easy to let these things take over my thoughts and drowned out my joy. Some days I just don't feel like celebrating. The rain on my parade can wash away my joy.

However, God says, "look on the bright side." Philippians 4:8 "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things."

Romans 12:12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

Luke 15 is brimming with cause for celebration. In the parable of the lost sheep Jesus said "Then he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.' I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent."

Likewise in the parable of the lost coin, "there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God."
And of course the lost son. Let's have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.' So they began to celebrate.

I'm working on some simple ways to make everyday celebrations.

When I turn on my cell phone in the morning I am greeting with the message, "today has great potential." It's a good reminder.

I found some great plates in the dollar bin at the grocery store. They are decorated with a swirling pattern of rainbow colors and I love to use them. I also have some china. Sometimes it's fun to pull it out and use "just because."

I could stop at the store on the way home and pick up a balloon. When my bewildered family asks what it's for...I've got a golden opportunity to start a conversations about the wonders of God or to say that I've just been considering how blessed we are that all of our names are written in heaven (Luke 10:20...but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.)

I'm going to clean up a bud vase for a single cut flower and attach a note of praise. A young friend of mine just completed her GED and is looking forward to graduation. I'm going to dig out my craft supplies and make her a hand-made card of congratulations.

The possibilities are endless. Our attitudes (both the good and the bad) are contagious. Though I am usually prepared to rejoice with those who rejoice and to weep with those who weep, my goal is to actively celebrate a lot more often and to spread a grateful and joyful attitude. If you have any ideas for some "every day kind of celebration" let me know.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus."

Thanks,
Lisa

Cast Your Cares

Psalm 55:22
Cast your cares on the LORD
and he will sustain you;

The spring winds are still having their way around here and sure enough the signs of a new season are popping up all over. I am also aware of the signs of a new season moving within me. I expected it, much as I expect the change of any season, because I've seen and experienced it many times before.

However, this pattern of see and believe doesn't always work for me. I know from experience that I am not in control. God has shown me time and time again that He is in control and it always comes as such a relief. Repeatedly he has carried the load, mended the heart, and given grace for the day at hand. I know from experience that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. (Romans 8:28)

Still, I occasionally find myself believing I've got everything under control. I get tired from carrying the load. The poisonous gases of anxiety and worry seep in. Faith is a journey that takes a lifetime. Meanwhile, I have found a good visual that helps me out. Literally putting my hands on a concept of faith helps me to build faith.

I discovered this exercise when I was a youth group leader. All you need is a helium balloon, a felt tip marker, something fairly heavy like a rock or a brick, a wide open space and faith that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:6)

On the balloon, write down whatever is weighing you down. Maybe it’s a need to forgive someone or to be forgiven. Maybe it’s a load of responsibility that you just can’t carry by yourself anymore. It might be a loved one in trouble whom you feel powerless to help, a boss on your last nerve, or a dream that seems infinitely out of reach. Whatever it is that you long to give to the Lord, write it on the balloon.

Secure the string of the balloon and the brick in your hand and hold it straight out. While you’re doing this begin praying. Praise God for his ability and willingness to take the weight off your shoulders. Pray about the issue at hand. Ask for the strength to not retrieve it from him once you’ve given it to him. Pray what is on your heart. Before long, your arm will start to ache from the weight. But as in real life, you will be able to hold out a little longer. Eventually, your arm will give out and the rock will fall to the ground.

The balloon carrying your weighty words, however, is on its way into the sky and out of sight. Take a moment to weave the meaning of the symbolism into the fabric of your soul. I hope you feel lighter. I do.

This doesn’t mean that I’ll stop taking action or being concerned about this or that thing. Hopefully it means that my actions will be more fruitful unlike the exhausting re-actions that wear me out emotionally and physically. My concerns will motivate me to be closer to God rather than worries that lead me away.

...like this child

Matthew 18: 3-5

3And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
5"And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me."

Throughout life there are always any number of problems to solve and profound thoughts to be pondered. In the midst of it all I strive and struggle not to forget simplicity.It's easy to lose the ability to see life through the eyes of a child if we don't continue to hone those skills. I think this inability is as disabling in life as any other ability I have lost with age (or have never gotten around to trying at all).

I recently came across some poems which my mom has been saving. I loved them as a child. "My Shadow" which I'm including below was one of my favorites. I didn't know of Robert Louis Stevenson or his impressive list of literary accomplishments. I only knew that I enjoyed the words. I loved sitting next to my mother as she read and reread the children's books and poems to me. As I read over the poems I was transported to a simpler time and that familiar feeling stirred in me.

Whatever our work or our ministry we hope that it will make a difference. As a writer I hope that my words will touch lives. As a Christian I hope that I will do all things to His Glory. When I wrote my first "books" as a youngster, I simply wanted to tell a story. Story told...mission accomplished. It occurred to me that when my work on earth is weighed on the Kingdom scales it will not be the quantity that tips them one way or the other. It won't matter how many copies I've sold or how many articles I'll have had published. Nor am I convinced that it will be the relative quality. The real weight will be in the love, faith, and obedience involved in the work. With those things factored into my writing, the words will have no choice but to be effective in what ever way God determines.

My Shadow
by Robert Louis Stevenson

I have a little shadow that goes in and out with me,
And what can be the use of him is more than I can see.
He is very, very like me from the heels up to the head;
And I see him jump before me, when I jump into my bed.

The funniest thing about him is the way he likes to grow-
Not at all like proper children, which is always very slow;
For he sometimes shoots up taller like an india-rubber ball,
And he sometimes gets so little that there's none of him at all.

He hasn't got a notion of how children ought to play,
And can only make of fool of me in every sort of way.
He stays so close beside me, he's a coward, you can see;
I'd think shame to stick to nursie as that shadow sticks to me!

One morning, very early, before the sun was up,
I rose and found the shining dew on every buttercup;
But my lazy little shadow, like an arrant sleep head,
Had stayed at home behind me and was fast asleep in bed.

Fences

Fences are built on cloudy days
By the strong hands of many men
Fences are built with fallen trees
To keep things out and keep them in.

Fences are built in the blazing sun
Keeping within the property line
Fences are built lest we forget
What is yours and what is mine.

The strongest fences I've ever seen
Are the ones I saw in someone's heart
Maintained with precision and labored days
To keep this man and his Lord apart.

Waiting there where the grass is greener
I saw the Lord with grace throughout
And I knew the fence that wouldn't let Him in
Would someday soon never let Him out.

~Lisa Bose