Dear Friends: I have missed you. I hope you have missed me. We have a special connection because we know and love the Lord Jesus and belong to Him. I miss my brothers and sisters in Christ, and when I write, I feel that connection. I hope you do, too.
When I think of you, I picture you as you were the last time we saw each other. That's pretty cool because I haven't seen some of you for many years. In my heart and mind, you haven't gained any weight, your hair isn't gray, you don't have any wrinkles; you don't need teeth or glasses; your ears and noses haven't grown any longer (Did you know that happens the older you get?); and you still have all of your hair - in the right places! Amazing!
That works both ways, right?
I just had a precious thought. My Heavenly Daddy thinks of me without spot or wrinkle, (Eph 5:27) perfect, with no flaws, because He sees me covered by the blood of His sweet Son, that precious baby whose birth we celebrate this month. I'm so very thankful for that covering.
It's so hard to think of that baby as the Son of God who gave His life for me. It humbles me to think how much He loves me, to try and understand the depths of His mercy, and the riches of His grace.
Ok, I didn't mean to start preaching right away.
I had the privilege of having my mother with me a couple of weeks during this holiday season. I took her to suster's house in Greenville S.C. last weekend and have missed having her here when I come home from work.
I spent a lot of time just talking to her, asking personal questions, asking her to tell me stories that I had heard so many times but wanted to hear again. We laughed, cried a little, and sang old songs her mother used to sing. My mother is the oldest of her siblings still living, so she holds the knowledge now to the history of her family, knows the old stories, and can make them come alive with such personal conviction, humor, and passion. She lived them.
She cleared up some miscommunication from stories being told to someone, and then that someone telling it to someone else until the truth was lost or so muddled, it had morphed into something that didn't even resemble the initial tale.
I learned things I had never known and wondered how I could have known my mother for so many years, spent so much time with her and still not know all there was to know about her. The longer I know her as an adult and see her not just as my mother, but as a woman who has lived for many years and learned extraordinary lessons during her life's journey, I find there are layers to peel away and numerous things still to learn about her and from her.
When I really listen with my heart, I can hear the same old stories from a different perspective and sometimes understand what those stories mean to her just from the quiver in her voice, a smile, a tear, sometimes shades of regret, and often that far away look of "yesteryear." But getting those kinds of messages takes "listening with purpose."
When I see this woman as my mother and listen to her as my mother, I am experiencing her from a child's perspective, and I love her especially because she is my mother, and for what all that has meant to me in my life. When I spend time with her woman to woman, I experience her journey, the richness of her life, the lessons I can learn from her mistakes and her triumphs, and I grow up and mature a little more, while gaining a deeper love and appreciation not just for my mother but for the woman who is my mother.
Isn't that how we approach the Lord? We come as children, drinking the milk of the Word, loving the Lord because He first loved us. It is not until we have spent time with Him, listened to His heart and applied what we have learned that we mature in Him, get our "spiritual teeth" so to speak and begin eating the "meat of the Word."
That's when I become more like Him. I cannot fully comprehend the lessons from His earthly journey unless taught by the Holy Spirit. That takes "listening with purpose" on my part. When I do that consistently, the fruits of the spirit - love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness - become more evident in my daily walk. I begin to really comprehend who I am in Christ because the Holy Spirit Who is my teacher explains what my position is in Christ.
I'm not just His child, I am joint heirs with Him, an heir of God (Romans 8:17). Because that sweet baby was born, died, and rose again, I have the privilege of being adopted. I am in Him, and He is in me (John 15:5). I will be able to partake of that glorious inheritance. That is not "milk." That is "meat." I am trying to comprehend it as I "chew" on it right now. I need mammoth teeth for this.
I believe Psalm 139:6 might explain exactly how I feel --- "Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain it."
I am so humbled before that precious baby in a manger. Thank you to my Heavenly Daddy for the birth of His Son, His love for me, my position in Christ because of the unsearchable riches of His mercy and grace.
Without Him, we are broken vessels in a broken world and cannot accomplish anything of eternal value. With Him, we are joint heirs, heirs of God.
I choose to walk with Him through this broken world. It is not my home. I have an eternal inheritance. I am the daughter of The King.
This princess is "shouting." And all God's people said, "Amen and Amen!"
Always approaching the day with joy - Mecca
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Saturday, December 1, 2012
MeccaMusing: Wonderful, Wonderful, Wonderful
MeccaMusing: Wonderful, Wonderful, Wonderful: Dear Ones: What an unbelievably wonderful (capable of eliciting wonder or astonishment) Thanksgiving holiday we had. There are four of us...
Wonderful, Wonderful, Wonderful
Dear Ones: What an unbelievably wonderful (capable of eliciting wonder or astonishment) Thanksgiving holiday we had. There are four of us siblings who take turns hosting Thanksgiving festivities. This year we all went to my suster's (Becky) and her husband's (Dan) house.
It couldn't have been a better time. We celebrated muther's 89th birthday, ate too much, laughed, cried, hugged, told stories on one another, had a therapy session to determine whether or not any of us were high maintenance (funny story), and "cussed and discussed" the Cowboys (they lost, durn 'em).
We grew closer to each other as we reveled in the love we had for one another and the memories we shared because of it. We remembered our daddy and the heritage he left for us and thanked the Lord he was in Heaven.
Then on Monday evening, Muther, Frank and I had the privilege of having dinner with some life-long missionary friends. I had not seen my childhood friend in 50 years and had never met his wife, but I really connected with her from the moment we introduced ourselves to each other. I had not seen his dad in about 25 years. Frank had never met any of the family, but he had heard me talk about them and knew they were dear to me.
As long as it had been, when I saw them both, it was like yesterday, and we picked up our conversation as if it were yesterday. We also shared memories, laughed, shared who we were today, and what was going on in our lives. We shared pictures of family, spoke of our triumphs and heartaches, and rejoiced in God's faithfulness.
They told me I looked just like my dad and had his mannerisms and sense of humor. My thought at that moment was how much I wanted to have my heavenly Daddy's attributes as well. That is certainly what my dad wanted for himself and his family. The thought was precious to me.
I might not see our dear friends again until we meet at the feet of Jesus, but we will pray for one another, bear one another's burdens, and rejoice with one another in answered prayer (Gal. 6:2).
Do you have family and friends with whom you have that kind of bond? It is priceless, right?
As we were driving home, I was thinking of this season of Thanksgiving. I do try with all of my heart to have an "attitude of gratitude" no matter what is going on in my life. I believe it is important to my spiritual maturity and happiness.
There is ALWAYS something for which we can be thankful. The Lord commands us to be thankful in everything and every circumstance "for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you (I Thess. 5:18).
I began wondering why it was so important to be thankful, why so many strong statements are in the Word of God about gratitude. I believe it is a matter of obedience. I don't believe it is possible to be depressed, unforgiving, selfish, or have any of the other attitudes and characteristics that keep us from living abundantly when we have a grateful heart.
I thought today that even if none of the things I had just written about were true in my life, I could live an abundant life because of Calvary. Because of that sacrifice, every occurrence in my life can be a source of gratitude and thankfulness. When I live as unto the Lord, everything that happens, whether it brings me prosperity or adversity, is equally a source of joy; because when I am grateful for it, it will make me more like the Lord Jesus.
Being thankful keeps me in a spirit of prayer, gives me the ability to love others the way I should. I have had people in my life that were absolutely intolerable to be around until I started praying for God's blessings on their lives. The result was blessing on my life. As I said before, it is a matter of obedience. Obedience and gratitude are eternally connected.
Thank you Lord Jesus for Calvary, for the power of your resurrection and its availability to me each moment of every day; thank you for every circumstance of my life; thank you for my daddy's and mother's legacy of knowing and loving You and Your Word that right now, today, causes our family to love You and one another more.
Thank you for your Holy Spirit that bears witness with my spirit that I belong to you.
Whether I shout it, speak it in conversation, dwell on it in my heart, or whisper it in my dreams, May my heart's cry ever be, Thank you, Lord Jesus, for Calvary.
What a wonderful Savior. Still approaching each day with joy, Love to all, Mecca
It couldn't have been a better time. We celebrated muther's 89th birthday, ate too much, laughed, cried, hugged, told stories on one another, had a therapy session to determine whether or not any of us were high maintenance (funny story), and "cussed and discussed" the Cowboys (they lost, durn 'em).
We grew closer to each other as we reveled in the love we had for one another and the memories we shared because of it. We remembered our daddy and the heritage he left for us and thanked the Lord he was in Heaven.
Then on Monday evening, Muther, Frank and I had the privilege of having dinner with some life-long missionary friends. I had not seen my childhood friend in 50 years and had never met his wife, but I really connected with her from the moment we introduced ourselves to each other. I had not seen his dad in about 25 years. Frank had never met any of the family, but he had heard me talk about them and knew they were dear to me.
As long as it had been, when I saw them both, it was like yesterday, and we picked up our conversation as if it were yesterday. We also shared memories, laughed, shared who we were today, and what was going on in our lives. We shared pictures of family, spoke of our triumphs and heartaches, and rejoiced in God's faithfulness.
They told me I looked just like my dad and had his mannerisms and sense of humor. My thought at that moment was how much I wanted to have my heavenly Daddy's attributes as well. That is certainly what my dad wanted for himself and his family. The thought was precious to me.
I might not see our dear friends again until we meet at the feet of Jesus, but we will pray for one another, bear one another's burdens, and rejoice with one another in answered prayer (Gal. 6:2).
Do you have family and friends with whom you have that kind of bond? It is priceless, right?
As we were driving home, I was thinking of this season of Thanksgiving. I do try with all of my heart to have an "attitude of gratitude" no matter what is going on in my life. I believe it is important to my spiritual maturity and happiness.
There is ALWAYS something for which we can be thankful. The Lord commands us to be thankful in everything and every circumstance "for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you (I Thess. 5:18).
I began wondering why it was so important to be thankful, why so many strong statements are in the Word of God about gratitude. I believe it is a matter of obedience. I don't believe it is possible to be depressed, unforgiving, selfish, or have any of the other attitudes and characteristics that keep us from living abundantly when we have a grateful heart.
I thought today that even if none of the things I had just written about were true in my life, I could live an abundant life because of Calvary. Because of that sacrifice, every occurrence in my life can be a source of gratitude and thankfulness. When I live as unto the Lord, everything that happens, whether it brings me prosperity or adversity, is equally a source of joy; because when I am grateful for it, it will make me more like the Lord Jesus.
Being thankful keeps me in a spirit of prayer, gives me the ability to love others the way I should. I have had people in my life that were absolutely intolerable to be around until I started praying for God's blessings on their lives. The result was blessing on my life. As I said before, it is a matter of obedience. Obedience and gratitude are eternally connected.
Thank you Lord Jesus for Calvary, for the power of your resurrection and its availability to me each moment of every day; thank you for every circumstance of my life; thank you for my daddy's and mother's legacy of knowing and loving You and Your Word that right now, today, causes our family to love You and one another more.
Thank you for your Holy Spirit that bears witness with my spirit that I belong to you.
Whether I shout it, speak it in conversation, dwell on it in my heart, or whisper it in my dreams, May my heart's cry ever be, Thank you, Lord Jesus, for Calvary.
What a wonderful Savior. Still approaching each day with joy, Love to all, Mecca
Saturday, November 17, 2012
MeccaMusing: Corners, Crevices, Cracks, and all of 'em Clean
MeccaMusing: Corners, Crevices, Cracks, and all of 'em Clean: Dear Ones: It has been a busy week. Do any of us ever have a week anymore that we can say is not busy? I think there might be something ...
Corners, Crevices, Cracks, and all of 'em Clean
Dear Ones: It has been a busy week. Do any of us ever have a week anymore that we can say is not busy? I think there might be something wrong with that. I am still struggling with my sinuses. Finally went to the Dr. and got an antibiotic.
I am some better, but as LaRue's (sweet, dear friend of mine) mother used to say, "I am just putting up a good front." Now, I just like to say that I get a lot done for a sick girl. Truly, I am better.
I am overjoyed today. It is again so beautiful here in Atlanta. The brilliant colors of red, orange, green, brown, and yellow are everywhere. The weather is not too cold or too hot, and most special of all, my mother flew in today to spend the next two weeks with me.
We will celebrate her 89th birthday the day after Thanksgiving. Isn't that amazing? Her mind is so clear (has always been brilliant), her heart is strong, and she had the strength and stamina to fly from San Antonio to Atlanta. (Frank just walked by and said, "but she can't hear worth a ****," to which she said, "What did you say?" All three of us laughed.)
We keep a pretty clean house, but we do clean extra for company.
Everything in the house felt so much cleaner after Frank and I pulled up rugs, pulled out the refrigerator and cleaned good behind, underneath, on top (whew, you talkin' about some kind of mess). It is eye-opening and nostril-challenging to pull out the refrigerator. There is no tellin' what you will discover. As many ice cubes as I have kicked under there, I don't know why there wasn't an igloo in the corner. LOL
While the house might not look any cleaner than normal to anyone else, Frank and I knew we had cleaned every corner, crevice, crack and in between. We had such a great sense of accomplishment. It felt good to be the right kind of stewards of what the Lord had given us.
I remember that we cleaned very thoroughly one evening. The next morning, the sun showed through the large uncovered windows in the living room and dining room, revealing a lot of dust and crumbs we had missed. We were actually amazed at how much we had missed. The problem was, we were cleaning without enough light. Things looked really good because we couldn't see everything with just the room lighting.
The bright light of the morning sun revealed every little particle of dust, every crumb, every single smudge on the front of the refrigerator or stove top or hardwood floors. Nothing escaped its rays.
My mind and heart went immediately to this manifested truth in God's Word. The knowledge and application of His word to my life is a "lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." (Ps 119:105). Unless I ask the Lord to "Search me and know my heart," (Ps 139:23) I will have crumbs, smudges and dust particles of sin left on the shelves of my soul; the kind that can come between my soul and my Savior.
His search is precise, cuts through the clutter; it penetrates even to dividing the soul and spirit, joints, and marrow; it judges the thoughts and intents of my heart. Hebrews 4:12. So, when I really want to be right before the Lord, I choose the light of His Word, not a facsimile of it.
When I try to search my own heart, I tend to compare myself to others in order to determine if what I am doing is right or wrong and to justify anything I might find. My sweet Lord Jesus clearly tells me that is not wise. II Cor. 10:12.
The only reason I would shun His search is that I am afraid of what He will find, ashamed of my failures and bringing dishonor to Him. What I must remember is that He already knows them; when I ask Him to reveal them to me, I will know them. Then I have the wonderful opportunity of claiming His forgiveness.
Let me just say this. In my walk with the Lord, when I have felt like I was doing "pretty well," I was not comparing myself to Him. "Pretty well" never enters the mind of a believer who is truly walking in the presence of God. It is more akin to "humbled and undeserving, but grateful."
I wonder why I am content with the crumbs, dust, and dirt of this world, when I can have His resurrection power available to me because my heart is clean and pure before Him.
When I was thinking about the brightness of the sun, sometimes so bright, it hurts my eyes, I remembered how overwhelmed I was the first time I heard that Heaven would have no sun or moon because the glory of the Lord would outshine both of them. Isaiah goes so far as to say that not only would the sun and moon not shine, but that the moon would be abashed and the sun ashamed to even try to shine in the presence of the glory of God. (Is 24:3)
Oh, how thankful I am for the truth and living power of God's Word and His glory that flows from it. The gift my mother and daddy gave me of ensuring I heard and memorized God's Word has been deep, priceless, and enduring. It has been a drink for my soul in times of thirst, a source of peace in times of fear, a fortress when I needed courage, and always a light in times of darkness.
Now, I make it a point to really clean when the sun is shining. It reminds me of the love of God, His power to show me my mistakes and redeem them as I walk in the light of His Word. How about you?
I am approaching this and every day with joy. Love and miss you all. Mecca
Sunday, November 4, 2012
MeccaMusing: To Him be Glory...both Now and Ever, Amen!
MeccaMusing: To Him be Glory...both Now and Ever, Amen!: Good Afternoon . It is a beautiful day in Atlanta, Georgia. It's about 65 degrees and the sun is shining (between the clouds). I have a b...
To Him be Glory...both Now and Ever, Amen!
Good Afternoon. It is a beautiful day in Atlanta, Georgia. It's about 65 degrees and the sun is shining (between the clouds). I have a bad cold or sinus infection. Doesn't matter what I call it, the results are the same. I attended "Bedside Baptist" this morning. Most of you will completely identify with that phrase.
(Pause). I took a little nap after that first paragraph.
I am looking outside my window at the most beautiful array of fall colors. Now, there is a cloud cover with a sweet, gentle falling rain.
Frank knows I love flowers. I left for a conference on Tuesday. When I returned on Friday, he had planted winter blooming plants in the front yard and all of our pots on the back porch. (Thank you, Lord, for watering them today).
When I hugged and thanked him, he proudly ran his fingers through his beautiful, thick salt and pepper gray hair (that is a little bit longer, and I love it) and said, "it's my love language." Of course, we both laughed. I love him. God is so good all of the time.
Are we ready for this election to be over or what? The political storm is swirling in every newspaper, on every TV channel -- Like It, Spin It, Tweet It --- in every kind of communication medium imaginable.
As I reminded myself in an earlier blog, we have the far left, the far right, and then there is "leading from the center." The hot buttons are Obamacare, abortion (always will be), deep deficit, too much spending, the ever-present agenda of "spreading the wealth" vs. individual responsibility, bias of the media, corruption in the government, loss of religious freedom, the 47%, vote for revenge, vote for love of country, debates -- the first, the last and the ones in between, four more days, Sandy, Benghazi - and on and on.
It's too close to call. The brilliant pundits don't know who will win. If Romney carries Ohio, he wins; if Obama loses Florida, but carries Wisconsin, PA, and CO, he wins. Someone might win the popular vote but lose the electoral college. Right now it's a dead heat. Many of us feel it is either a fresh beginning or the end of America as we know her.
There is so much rancor, discontent, accusation, and distrust. This is just part of the chaos of this ole' world and its prince who revels in it (Eph. 2:2).
My Heavenly Daddy reminded me this morning that He is not surprised by any of it. The world is groaning and toiling under the weight of chaos and sin.
Hebrews 12:1-3 talks about all the weight and the sins that so easily beset (surround or attack from all sides) us." While I believe that verse is referring to believers, it does remind me of the commercial about COPD and how the disease makes the person feel like an elephant is sitting on her chest.
Following that analogy, the inhabitants of this world are laboring under a giant circus tent full of elephants.
Then, the other verse that comes to mind is Isaiah 25:1, "Oh Lord, you are my God. I will praise and exalt your name; for in perfect faithfulness, you have done marvelous things, things planned long ago." There is great peace and rest knowing that in perfect faithfulness, my Heavenly Daddy planned my future a long time ago.
And the other verse, II Tim 1:12b "for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I've committed unto Him against that day." He knows what tomorrow holds, and I know Him, and He knows me by name. How about that?
I will vote. You must vote; but rest assured that God is sovereign. The Word of God tells us that an omniscient God has been working behind the scenes throughout history.
And it is my Heavenly Daddy who "executes judgement, putting down one [king or kingdom] and lifting up another (Psalm 75:7). And I know He does all things well.
Here is what is difficult for my flesh - to pray that the one whose presidency will bring the most honor and glory to the Lord Jesus will be elected. As I prayed that prayer, He gently reminded me that sometimes He is most glorified when saints rejoice in suffering. He only promised grace and strength for the day, not that the day would be without sorrow.
I have been guilty of praying for whom I wanted to win the election. I decided that was a selfish prayer, because it might have been more for my good than His glory.
Now I pray that He will do whatever it takes (it unsettles me just to type those words even though I say I trust Him) to make me ready to see Him face to face, to give me grace and courage to share in His suffering and be made conformable to His death (Phil 3:10). I have no idea what that entails, but He does, and that's all that matters.
It's not about an election or even America. It is all about Him.
"Now unto Him Who is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy; to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen!" Jude 1:24-25
PS - The sun just broke through the clouds. And all God's people said, "Amen and Amen."
(Pause). I took a little nap after that first paragraph.
I am looking outside my window at the most beautiful array of fall colors. Now, there is a cloud cover with a sweet, gentle falling rain.
Frank knows I love flowers. I left for a conference on Tuesday. When I returned on Friday, he had planted winter blooming plants in the front yard and all of our pots on the back porch. (Thank you, Lord, for watering them today).
When I hugged and thanked him, he proudly ran his fingers through his beautiful, thick salt and pepper gray hair (that is a little bit longer, and I love it) and said, "it's my love language." Of course, we both laughed. I love him. God is so good all of the time.
Are we ready for this election to be over or what? The political storm is swirling in every newspaper, on every TV channel -- Like It, Spin It, Tweet It --- in every kind of communication medium imaginable.
As I reminded myself in an earlier blog, we have the far left, the far right, and then there is "leading from the center." The hot buttons are Obamacare, abortion (always will be), deep deficit, too much spending, the ever-present agenda of "spreading the wealth" vs. individual responsibility, bias of the media, corruption in the government, loss of religious freedom, the 47%, vote for revenge, vote for love of country, debates -- the first, the last and the ones in between, four more days, Sandy, Benghazi - and on and on.
It's too close to call. The brilliant pundits don't know who will win. If Romney carries Ohio, he wins; if Obama loses Florida, but carries Wisconsin, PA, and CO, he wins. Someone might win the popular vote but lose the electoral college. Right now it's a dead heat. Many of us feel it is either a fresh beginning or the end of America as we know her.
There is so much rancor, discontent, accusation, and distrust. This is just part of the chaos of this ole' world and its prince who revels in it (Eph. 2:2).
My Heavenly Daddy reminded me this morning that He is not surprised by any of it. The world is groaning and toiling under the weight of chaos and sin.
Hebrews 12:1-3 talks about all the weight and the sins that so easily beset (surround or attack from all sides) us." While I believe that verse is referring to believers, it does remind me of the commercial about COPD and how the disease makes the person feel like an elephant is sitting on her chest.
Following that analogy, the inhabitants of this world are laboring under a giant circus tent full of elephants.
Then, the other verse that comes to mind is Isaiah 25:1, "Oh Lord, you are my God. I will praise and exalt your name; for in perfect faithfulness, you have done marvelous things, things planned long ago." There is great peace and rest knowing that in perfect faithfulness, my Heavenly Daddy planned my future a long time ago.
And the other verse, II Tim 1:12b "for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I've committed unto Him against that day." He knows what tomorrow holds, and I know Him, and He knows me by name. How about that?
I will vote. You must vote; but rest assured that God is sovereign. The Word of God tells us that an omniscient God has been working behind the scenes throughout history.
And it is my Heavenly Daddy who "executes judgement, putting down one [king or kingdom] and lifting up another (Psalm 75:7). And I know He does all things well.
Here is what is difficult for my flesh - to pray that the one whose presidency will bring the most honor and glory to the Lord Jesus will be elected. As I prayed that prayer, He gently reminded me that sometimes He is most glorified when saints rejoice in suffering. He only promised grace and strength for the day, not that the day would be without sorrow.
I have been guilty of praying for whom I wanted to win the election. I decided that was a selfish prayer, because it might have been more for my good than His glory.
Now I pray that He will do whatever it takes (it unsettles me just to type those words even though I say I trust Him) to make me ready to see Him face to face, to give me grace and courage to share in His suffering and be made conformable to His death (Phil 3:10). I have no idea what that entails, but He does, and that's all that matters.
It's not about an election or even America. It is all about Him.
"Now unto Him Who is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy; to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen!" Jude 1:24-25
PS - The sun just broke through the clouds. And all God's people said, "Amen and Amen."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)