Step by step - to beautiful

 

I received a gift card to my favorite yarn shop. Soon I'll be going shopping with a girlfriend. I'll be able to pick out some really beautiful, good quality yarn. I decided to make a cardigan sweater for myself. I spent days searching site after site, looking for just the right pattern. Read every detail. Considered this one, then back to that one. Re-reading and picturing the steps in my mind. Then I grabbed some yarn I already had. And started practicing the pattern. You see, some of it was a well known and familiar stitch. But I was going to go beyond the known and familiar - to trying the cable stitch. I read and re-read. Then pictured it in my mind. Then taking one step at a time, followed the directions, phrase by phrase. I practiced it. I tried again and again. I had to keep referring back to the original pattern a few times. But eventually I caught the rhythm of it. Eventually it became familiar and my knitting went along more smoothly.

Perhaps this lesson can be applied to reading the bible. First off, it is a gift. Then you get to decide. Then it's time to pursue with the same passion as looking for the perfect pattern. It's reading and re-reading and picturing things in your mind. It's the comfort found in familiar passages and then going beyond for something more. (Do you know that at one time I only knitted mittens, because I was afraid of patterns asking for more thought and concentration?) Breaking the unknown into manageable bites - referring back to the original words time and time again until this new enlightenment finds its rhythm in your soul. And now you have something greater and more beautiful than you had just staying at the level where you were most comfortable.

Will life go more smoothly with a greater knowledge / sense of God?

Will the unknown continue to hold you back, or will you dare to pursue God and practice pursuing God more - until eventually God becomes more familiar, more beautiful, more amazing ...

more.

Come to Me... (Matthew 11:28)

Return to Me... (isaiah 44:22)

Abide with Me... (John 15:4)

Gaze upon the beauty of the Lord (Psalm 27:4)

Who's on first?

 

© 2012 Julie Crane All rights reserved

I had some good intentions. I really meant to write a blog post at least once a week. Why? Because my heart screams for people to trust in God. To be reminded to believe in how big, and powerful, and loving He truly is. HOPE in Him. How His presence carries us through every kind of thing. But I didn't make that goal. Fell short. The excuse I used was that I didn't feel the Spirit move me to write about any particular thing. So I told myself the time wasn't right and that when the time was right, the words would come upon me as they have so many times before.

In truth, I haven't been reading my bible as diligently as I should. I haven't spent any consistent, habitual time learning and relearning about God and His character. Oh, I do my morning devotional reading and it is based on a scripture passage or two. And indeed, others words have been helpful in keeping me centered. But my own direct reading of His Word, my own time mulling over phrases... wondering about entire accounts of people in biblical times - focusing, looking for God's hand in every one...

I shouldn't be sitting back and waiting for the Spirit to move me into action. I should be seeking and finding with some real intention and effort. Seek first, right? And all things will be added. (Matthew 6:33) I need to get my nose in the truth. His very Word. The one real, true source of connecting with God. And as I fill myself with more of Him, as found in His Word, then I will have some foundation for sharing with others. As I deepen my relationship, my understanding of God, then I believe I will know what to do. What to write. How to love. How to live. Yes, seeking Him must come first. From that one true Source. 

Pray with me. For me and yourselves as well. That we seek first, trusting that all else will be added.

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)

Jesus answered, "It is written' Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.'" (Matthew 4:4)

But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop. (Luke 68:15)

Really finished?

© 2012 Julie Crane All rights reserved

 
Christmas shopping got done early this year. Made a list. Checked it twice. Gifts purchased online with a few handmade. Food for dinner tucked away in the freezer. Even cookies baked. Everything is wrapped. Delivered. And its still a week until Christmas Day! Maybe I should buy one more gift for... no! Maybe I should bake up some... no! I made the list. I checked it twice. I'm done. The time has come to relax and say all is ready. There is no more to be done. It's time to rest in the peace that knowledge brings. Fuzzy slippers. Hot cocoa. Crackling fireplace.

Jesus came to save. His blood covers every sin. God made "a list" and "checked it twice". All is complete in Christ. There is no more to be done. Stop running, thinking, trying to do more for the love, acceptance and salvation found in God's heart and hands. It's time to rest in the peace He brings.

Got Jesus in your heart? Then believe in the good news: Your salvation, freedom and peace has been won by His sacrificial love. God - always fully your Supplier, Provider and Perfecter. It is complete and perfect. It is finished. Really finished. Just as He said. (John 19:30)

Christ our Savior is born.

Be at peace. His love for you is complete, full, abundant and beyond measure. Most beloved child...

But when the fullness of time had come, God sent His Son, born of a woman, born under the law, in order to redeem those under the law, so that we might receive adoption as children. - Galatians 4:4-5

Oh, what a beauty!

 

Oh, how we love our decorated trees! Taking time to place the lights just so. Holding an ornament a moment longer - remembering a special person or place in time. Covering bare spots; realigning to cover dark areas... until at last you step back and sigh at the beauty of it all.

Once a brown, rough wood with sharp, spikey needles - now sawn off at the bottom, cut off, removed from its former environment and now in the process of dying...

But wait! In the adding of ornaments new and old; adding color and lights and shine, and a couple kindergarten so-much-glitter! spots - now new life, a new beauty has been created. Even in its state of dying. It is beautiful, heart-warming, full of love, light, with great memories.

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here! (2 Corinthians 5:17)

We are new creations in Christ! Gone are the days of standing out in the deep, dark woods. We are now covered in light and love, laughter and smiles, and warm memories.

Covered... covered... covered...

from head to toe.

With a bright shiny star up above.

Imagine: this is what you must look like to God, clothed in Christ. No wonder He delights in you and rejoices over you with singing! (Zephaniah 3:17)

"Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you." (Isaiah 60:1)

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. (John 1:5)

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light... (Ephesians 5:8)

The old is gone.

Look! You are a new creation!

Rise and shine!

Oh, what a beauty!

Beyond survival mode

I look in the mirror, and I see this gentle but potent reminder: I got through cancer. I survived breast cancer. But long before that, God helped me survive many other things. Being teased in school for being soooo tall; moving away from the known and familiar to join the Navy; looking for jobs - taking jobs not suited to me; and when I found out I couldn't bear children (and everybody else was); being out on my own after a failed marriage; my only son headed for Iraq; mom dying of cancer; car troubles, financial problems... and oh yes, breast cancer.

Most likely, you too, have a litany of survivals, rescues, by the hand of God as well. Perhaps you have a few more on your list right now to get through - need of rescue by a power mightier than your own.

The Lord is near to all who call on Him. (Psalm 145:18)

What other nation is so great as to have their gods near them the way the Lord our God is near us whenever we pray to Him? (Deuteronomy 4:7)

The Lord is good, a refuge is times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in Him. (Nahum 1:7)

Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. (1 Peter 5:7)

Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. I say to myself, "The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him." (Lamentations 3:22-24)

What does forever and faithfulness mean but that God will continually, help, save, and rescue again and again. Did God ever quit on me (or you) no matter how long the list of needs, indeed - years of needs?

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him Who loved us. (Romans 8:37)

I look in the mirror, see the necklace, and I am reminded: By God's grace, I survived.

You too. Look in the mirror. And say, 

"By God's grace, I have survived. I will survive."

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for Him; do not fret... (Psalm 37:7)

       

Psalm 121

A song of ascents.

1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
    where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven and earth.

3 He will not let your foot slip—
    he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.

5 The Lord watches over you—
    the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day,
    nor the moon by night.

7 The Lord will keep you from all harm—
    he will watch over your life;
8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going
    both now and forevermore.

Thanks times ten

© 2012 Julie Crane All rights reserved

"Teaching" Sunday School via snail mail has had its challenges - and its rewards. As I contemplated a lesson for Thanksgiving week, and the myriad of scriptures regarding thanks, I "stumbled" (God-led) to the account of the ten lepers (Luke 17). You know the one: someone got sick with leprosy and other people could easily get sick if they got near, so they had to live apart. They missed their family and friends so much! BUT THEN - Jesus stopped - He stopped what He was doing and where He was going. And with a touch and a word...

as the ten walked along on a seemingly ordinary path on a seemingly ordinary day - it happened. They found themselves made better. So of course they rushed towards home, eager to embrace loved ones.

But one of them...

one of them turned back. Back to Jesus. Full of thanks and praise! "Thank You for making me better!" He couldn't hold back; couldn't hold his appreciation in. And he couldn't wait to then go and tell what the Lord had done.

Where are the other nine? Jesus asked. Were not all made better?

As I sit here writing, I can't help but think of reasons to join the one in thanks and praise. From new days dawning and sun rises, walks outdoors and fresh air chilly on my cheeks, laughter and giggles over hot cocoa, thick socks, casseroles warm from the oven, a phone call with a loved one - oh, and worship songs to hum! Yes, I think on these things - these love-gifts from God, and I am made better.

"Thank You, Jesus!"

Who will run back with me? Will you join me, running to Jesus and giving thanks?

In need of the best prayer

 

There certainly seems to be plenty to be prayed about lately. I feel like I'm drowning in issues and causes to lift up to the Lord. Maybe it feels like there's more than ever before. But in truth, if you thumb through any history book or open your bible to any page, you will see that Jesus' words ring true: In this world you will have trouble... (John 16:33)

But there are many times when I pray just to seek a resting place. My desire to pray over real concerns sometimes needs to take a backseat to my need for a peaceful and secure place. A non-anxious, no-calamity / no-drama oasis. That too is prayer.

Not a running list of all that's wrong. But an even-paced breathing in and breathing out. It's a sacred place. A "set apart" (separate from all that's swirling around in your head) place. Where the worldly does not invade / take over / dominate. In this prayer, with Jesus drawing close by, there is a space where I don't have to be overwhelmed; a place where I can close my eyes and dare to surrender to an Almighty God all that mere man cannot seem to do on its own.

I need to escape into that "set apart" sacred realm. I need to be reminded in that holy space and time that God has been taking care of troubles "His whole life". God continues to carry His children through one mess after another. He does not treat us as our "corporate and individual" sins deserve (Psalm 103:10). Indeed, His love (and care) over the whole world endures (rescuing from scenarios seen and unseen) forever. Until He calls us home.

I would like to encourage you to separate yourself for a time from whatever is bombarding your heart and mind. Take a real rest. Believe in a powerful God that will do something beyond your human imagination. 

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God. (Psalm 20:7)

Take a prayer time that offers peace to your weary soul...