Simple Truths Inside From Inside Camelot

Today I watched, for the umpteenth time, another version of the story of King Arthur, Lady Guinevere and Camelot. While watching it, I realized that this was really a story to teach a lesson to us all. Really it is. It has some very practical truths woven within the story. 

1) You should always be ready. Always. Live your life in a manner that you will not worry if it has to be examined by others. You never know when you will be called upon to lead.
2) Secrets are never good for anyone. Yes, there are those special secrets we must all keep to ourselves, like presents and surprise parties.  What I referring to are issues that come up in our lives.  Deal with the matter, don’t sweep it away or pretend it didn’t happen.  Don’t let things fester for years.Secrets like that have a habit of just walking right through your front door.

3) We all want everyone to be treated as equals. We want everyone to share and we all want everyone to feel as if no one is better than him or her. However, there will ALWAYS be those people who feel differently about this.  They will demand more and their actions can ruin it for everyone.

4) Be careful what kind of bricks you use to build your kingdom. Are those bricks built with good intentions but mortared with the blood of those who got in the way?

5) Even though we all like to think we can follow our hearts, we need to remember that our hearts do not always have the best judgment. If everyone followed their hearts, we would have far less laborers and be overrun with knights and princesses.

6) We must always have someone to give us wise counsel, but we need to be mindful of how they came to be our counsel and why? Their vision for the way things should be could cloud our original path. Don’t let someone thrust things onto you just because they believe this is the way it should be.

7) People are always going to have something to say about us.  There will be stories told about what we did, how we did it and what kind of impact it had on us.  We cannot control what is said.  Once the words are out there, they are out there.  No one can unhear what has been said.
Just live your life so that people have no choice but to believe what is true.

The story, the legend of King Arthur, his Knights of the Round Table, the valiant heart of Lady Guinevere is truly beautiful. The thoughts portrayed absolutely noble; but alas, the people, as is the case with all humans,  were perfectly and utterly flawed.

Ecclesiastes 1:9 

This Is Different

Today I caught a comment while flipping through radio

stations at a stop light.
I thought the comment was completely random, but it stuck with me.  Then I realized that Jesus placed it there for me to hear and take a step back.

My life today is completely different than my life just a short year ago.  I never asked for this turn in my life, actually no one would, but during this turn, I have had time to do those things I never seemed to have time for in years past.  

See, I have always been the one to give out scriptures.  Send the encouraging word.  Be the “lifter-upper”  When my situation changed, people sent me the same scriptures, the encouraging wood, lifted me up.  But for some reason, it didn’t stick.  I would think, “oh, that is so sweet of them.”  However, I didn’t take it and own it.

Back to the comment I heard today.  The man on the radio said 

“How is it that your life and
your situation is so different that
the promises of God don’t apply?”

WOW! Let that sink in.  How is it, that your life is SO different, the situation that you are currently in, is SO unlike others, that your bank account, your mortgage, your rent, your debt, your job, your family, your health…your “Fill In The Blank” is completely unheard of, absolutely unique, and simply does not compare with anything else in the history of time, that the PROMISES of GOD does not, AT ALL, apply to you? 

The answer is, it isn’t.  

Ecclesiastes 1:9 tells us that there is nothing new under the sun.
Nope, not one thing that is new.  

Kids have been turning their backs on parents, parents turning their backs on kids for all time.  People hating each other, wars, violence, breaking all kinds of laws.  The news today is just an new century reading of a history book.

Every single promise in the Bible is TRUE.
Every single promise.
Not a dud in the bunch!

Look at your life.
What is it that the Bible doesn’t apply to?
Got anything?
Me either.
You know what? I think we’re good.  

A Letter To My Mother

Dear Mom,

Well, you are right. About a lot of things.

After 40, I did get braver. After 45, I really got brave. The world did not end if I opted to play with my babies instead of doing the dishes right after dinner. Oh, and you were right about being firm with them. They still love me and brag on how I was tough, but they learned a lesson.

The thing you said about having a dream and following it, well I’m still working on that, but you were right, there was still time – and is still time. Remember when you told me to stick to my guns and I would respect myself later. You guessed it – right once again.

Honestly Mom, if you were here it would be “Winner,Winner; Chicken Dinner” and “Give the lady a cigar” because you were on the money with so many things.

As a little girl you taught me, “If you aren’t pretty on the inside, then you aren’t pretty on the outside” I didn’t clearly understand that until now. Actions really do speak louder than words. Neatness in appearance does count.

OH, and that night I got home past curfew (to be fair it was only 15 minutes) and you told me I wouldn’t understand until I was a mother – I got it now.
Watching my children be adults in this crazy world and seeing them do things that are good, right, fair and responsible…wow my heart really does swell and I really do feel it pull like an invisible cord is still tied to them.

Most of all Mom…most of all…I wish you were here so I could once again see your face and say,“Momma, how did you get so smart?” And then your mouth would give that sideways grin and your green eyes would sparkle and you would laugh with your whole body.

Someday Mom, you’ll tell me…until “someday” gets here, I’ll just keep on keeping track. 
Mom: 5,789,432 Susan: 10 
(I wonder if I can round up?)

Messes & Miracles

When you look at your life, do you see little messes among the miracles?  I know I do.  Even though our daily lives bring about miracles, no matter what we do, there is always some kind of mess.

We are humans.  We are messy.  The biggest messes are the ones we try to clean up ourselves.  We can trust Jesus with so many things, but then there are those things we feel we simply must take care of on our own.  That is when stuff gets really messy.

In Acts 10:36 we are told that “…He is Lord of all…” Lord of everything, Lord of big things and small things.  Lord of the past, present and future.  

If He was the Lord that brought the miracle, why can’t he be the Lord 
that can take care of the mess we made?

In my dictionary, the word all is an adjective meaning “the whole of”.  It also goes on to tell us that the adjective whole means “comprising the full quantity, amount, extent, number, etc., without diminution or exception, full or total”

That pretty much means nothing is
left out, wouldn’t you say?

Why not let Jesus be Lord of all yesterday, today and tomorrow?  

Yes there will still be messes, but we have a powerful cleaning solution.

Questions & Answers

For a few years, despite being raised in church and raising my children in church, I began to doubt my faith.  I questioned why things happened in my past, yelled at God, cried into my pillow, read many books and blogs.  

I was searching.  I was looking.  I was not finding any answers.  Well, “new” answers.

I knew all along what needed to happen.  I kept thinking there would be some new answer, some new information.  Some bright, shining, neon sign that would point me in the right direction.

Guess what? There wasn’t a bright, shiny, neon sign.  There was no new answer, no new information.  

In Ecclesiastes 1:9, the “Preacher’ tells us, that there is nothing new under the sun.

It took me a while to realize that this applied to my life as well as the actions in the world at large.  Let me explain.  I was not the first person who had grown up in the church to begin to question their faith.  I was not the first Christian to suffer from depression.  I certainly wasn’t the first person to look for answers to my questions in places other than the Bible.

When I heard the Lord speak to my spirit and felt His gentle hand leading me to where I should be, I realized I was once again home.  I had questions, but they no longer mattered.  I didn’t have the answers I was looking for, but I had the answers that mattered.  

We should seek, because Seeking Is Believing, but it is what and who we seek that matters.

Waiting Is Learning Without Fear

I shifted in the chair for the eleventy billionth time asking myself why hospital waiting rooms have extremely uncomfortable chairs?  

This was not my first time waiting like this and it certainly would not be the last.  That was not the way life worked.  

Eight years ago, I lost my mother.  Less than two months later, her mother (my grandmother followed).  Fifteen months later, my remaining grandmother.  My heart was heavy, but life goes forward.

Now here I sit, waiting once again.  This time it was for my great-aunt.  My mother’s aunt, but yet only a few years older.  This aunt was special.  She spoiled like an aunt was want to do, but loved and chastised like a mother.  Things were definitely different when she was around.  A special light resided inside of her and it shined like sunbeams on water.  All of her numerous nieces and nephews loved being with her.  Even if it was just sitting on the couch, not talking, but the small touch of her hand, the soft squeeze let you know she loved you.  

She was the wife of a pastor, a mother and grandmother, leader and prayer warrior, fashion model and chief cook and bottle washer.  Not afraid of hard work but loved to wear beautiful clothes.  One who welcomed and loved of all babies and little children.  

I shifted in the chair again, rolled my neck to stretch and listened to the cracks and pops.  I watched the people come in and out.  There was nothing but love all around us. 

A young girl was asking questions about how we were dealing with it all.  She told me that she really had no experience with death, she didn’t know what to think of all this.  To her it was so different.  I smiled and said, “The Christian heart has hope.  We know death is not final.  Our hope is in Jesus Christ who is our Resurrection.”  

Death is not the end,
for it brings the promise of new life.  

We are humans.  We will of course cry and miss our loved one something fierce.
However, that sadness is tempered with HOPE.

I am reminded of a scripture that my mother loved.  In times of trial and sorrow I remember this:

Joshua 1:9 NIV
Have I not commanded you?
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid;
do not be discouraged,
for the Lord your God will be
with you wherever you go.” 

Some versions replace the word “afraid” with “terrified“.  I like that. 
Do Not Be Terrified! 
How many people are truly terrified in world today?  
Do not be afraid, frightened, scared…terrified.  Our Lord is with us.
Not only “with us”, but with us Wherever we go.
Wherever covers a big territory, my friends.  

I switched chairs.  I walked the halls.  I answered phones.  I directed traffic.  I watched and waited.   No, there was no fear.  No one was terrified.  No one was discouraged.  No one was dismayed.  Yes there were tears, but there were hugs, there were kisses, there were small touches and a squeeze of a hand of the one next to you to let them know that you were there.  

Jesus knows our hearts, he knows our minds, He knows the number of days that we have here on this earth.  There is no fear in the end of those days when you know that Jesus is our life and promise.

Psalms 139:16 NLT
You saw me before I was born.
    Every day of my life was recorded in your book.Every moment was laid out    before a single day had passed.

I went back to the waiting room and watched the other families.  We were all shifting in our fabulous waiting room chairs.  Some of these families seemed to have the same peace that we held.  Others did not.   

Waiting can teach you many things.
These are the moments in which we learn. 

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.  

Isaiah 40:31 KJV

Trees

I was lost. Really lost. Well, maybe not really and truly lost, but lost enough.
I mean, I did have a GPS in my car, after all. But, I was off the beaten path.

I had decided to hop in the car and just “go.” I woke up with a restless spirit and wanted to see where the road would take me.

I found myself lost and thrilled.

A low, one lane bridge over a river; trees growing from the riverbed. Roots reaching down deep, not wavering, stalwart and strong.

These trees have been through droughts and floods.
Seasons of time have passed and yet here they are.
Unmoved.

Jeremiah 17:8 talks about people being like trees planted by the water; having no fear.

Psalms 1:3 tells us of the people who are like trees planted by the streams and what ever they do prospers.

I sang when I saw these trees! I shouted!
My spirit was lifted and I rejoiced!
These trees were magnificent and strong – I want to be a tree of righteousness!

Bloom where you are planted.
Grow strong.
Let your fruit show your faith!

H - E - L - P

I yelled as loud as I could.  To the top of my lungs.  Feeling it down in my toes.

 "H E L P ! ! !"

No one heard me.  I was alone in the house.  I was being overwhelmed with waves of, well, everything. I felt as if I were drowning and there were no other people around to see me going under.  I yelled it again, even louder this time.

 "HELP! I need help here!"  

I put my head down into my hands and pressed the heel of my palms into my eyes so hard, I began to see those colored, swirling lights.  I took a deep breath.  I looked at my checkbook again.  Nope, the numbers were still the same.  

I was a single mom, with two teenagers.  One about to enter college.  I had a sick mother who lived three hundred miles away that I drove to see as often as I could.  I was working two sometimes three jobs.  Still there were months were there were more days than money.  I needed help.  

I opened my Bible, l was going to pray over my checkbook and my children's future.  I had done this before, this was not some pop-up inspiration that was going to be an instant miracle.  I knew this.  But, I knew, right then, I needed help and my help came from the Lord and His word.

Isaiah 41:10

So do not fear, for I am with you;
    do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
    I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

I decided my fear of being overwhelmed was going to leave.  I was being lifted up by the hand of God.  He was holding me as a father does their child.  No miracle cure for my checkbook, but a comfort, a peace that let me know,

"Susan, I'm here.  I've not let go.  You can do this thing.  
You can make this work.  I will be here, you are not alone."

I scanned down a bit further.  The words seemed to dance in front of my eyes.  Maybe from tears, maybe for joy, but they danced.  

Isaiah 41:13

For I am the Lord your God
    who takes hold of your right hand
and says to you, Do not fear;
    I will help you.

He promised! He was going to help me! 

Peace surrounded me that day at my little table.  I paid my bills that day, not shoving them aside in fear.  I trusted that things would be better.  I knew I was not alone. I had help.  

My fear of not being enough, of not doing enough, of not having enough overwhelmed me that day so long ago.  It has tried to visit me again on other occasions.  Sometimes I have forgotten and opened the door.  Then I am reminded of  His promise - I Am Not Alone.   

You are not alone, you have the same help and safety.  

His promises are there for us all.  

What makes a family?

Is it because you share DNA with other people?  Because you are related by blood?

I know many people who have a family and do not share any genetic markers that would make them a biological family.  They didn’t find each other when the “child” was a child, they were older, in their teens or mid-twenties.  However, this did not make the “parent” any less of a parent because they did not raise them, in fact, it usually makes them closer.

Throughout my life, I watched my mother take in other “children” and treat them just as her own.  Sometimes these “brothers and sisters” would live with us, other times they were just close by.  To my mother, they were hers; her children, her babies.  She introduced them as such and when they got older and had children of their own, she was grandma.  This is how I was taught about family.

My mother had wanted a house filled with children, she had six miscarriages (that I know of) and only two children.  One of the scriptures she always quoted to me was Psalms 37:4-5,  

 “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this:”

If there is one thing that anyone would say about my mother, it would be she took delight in trusting in Jesus.  She wanted many children, and she was given more than she dreamed. Her family grew, and her heart was filled.  Trust can be a delight when there is love. 

If I can leave you with anything today, remember this:  

Delight my friends, trust the Lord.  Watch and see His mighty works.

When do you pray?

 “I thank my God every time I remember you.” Philippians 1:3

I have not ever been a get down on my knees, by the side of my bed, prayer time person.  I had my children when I was pretty young, if I knelt down with my eyes closed, that gave them an opportunity to create some new experiment in the bathroom sink.  Out of necessity, I became a pray with my eyes open, open and continual dialog with God, prayer time person.  My best prayers have been in traffic and the shower.

When someone crosses my mind, I say a prayer for them.  I don’t think twice, I just pray.  I may be in the grocery store, in line at the DMV, or heading into a client’s office.  Their name floats across my brain and my immediate response is “Jesus thank you for ____, bless them and keep them in your hand today.”

Life is filled with busy schedules, our days become hectic and finding a dedicated time to pray is sometimes impossible.  It can be so easy to slip past prayer time to help create the diorama for the science fair or bake cookies for the bake sale at church.

Instead of “making time” to pray, why not be in continual prayer?  Every breath becomes a prayer, keep and open dialog with Jesus all day long.

“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

We do not know what our days hold, each one a mystery and filled with unexpected events.  Especially if you have children.  Every breath a prayer should be our constant state.

Pray without ceasing, just like breathing.

This principle became even more important to me as my children got older.  Letting go, allowing them to learn on their own, stretching their wings and giving some more independence.  This made my breathing more heavy and my prayers more fervent.

When we find a challenge, such as parenting, our prayers get taken to the next level.  Having a constant and open dialog is as necessary as oxygen.

When you remember me, pray for me.  I will pray for you as well.
I will most likely be in my car, in traffic.

Shifting Sands and Solid Rock

Have you ever been to a place that was so gorgeous that you just stood with your mouth wide open? Yeah, me too. 

You just can’t help it.  You see the opulence, the colors, the spectacular vista...it is all too much.  Standing there with your jaw on the ground is all you can do.  

One of the places that fits this category for me is Snow Canyon, Utah.  I was there in late April.  It was snowing of course, but it was jut the “baby’ snow, nothing big.  

Mists were swirling through the air.  I just kept saying, “Oh my gosh look at that!” and pointing and elbowing my friend.  You would have thought I had never seen something like that before - I hadn’t, not really.

What makes this canyon so special is not the myriad of movies that have been filmed here, nor the people who have inhabited this area for thousands of years but it is the fact that these rocks are actually petrified sand dunes. 

This is truly the handiwork of God. 

This area has a long dormant volcano, obsidian (lava rocks) abound here, the red rocks are frozen in time. They are no longer shifting sands, but solid rock. 

Even the shifting sands become a firm foundation when we give Jesus control.

The next time you sing: “On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand...” think of these sand dunes that were petrified and became solid rock.  

Thank you Jesus for your beauty and for providing a
safe place for us to stand in this ever-changing world!

And, "YOU, LORD, IN THE BEGINNING LAID THE FOUNDATION OF THE EARTH, AND THE HEAVENS ARE THE WORKS OF YOUR HANDS; Hebrews 1:10

Today Is Not Always The Day

When I get excited about something, I'm a leap, then look kind of girl. Despite some of the mistakes from my past, I don't seem to grasp this concept of planning, looking, and then leaping. I'm usually am still writing the list while diving in the fray.

In our hearts we carry these dreams, these hopes of accomplishment, these callings we want to carry out.  We want so badly to move forward, to act, to create, but there is a mountain of laundry and a cyclone of office memos that seem to be blocking our path.

Not everything in our lives is a "Today" thing. 

Today, meaning, things that should be taken care of "today" Oh you may think it is, it may feel as if it is, even the mail you receive tells you to "Act Today!"

Every single day, we have "today" stuff. Our spouse (or lack of), kids, pets, dry cleaners, car wash, drugstore and all this before some of us get to our other job, you know, the one with the paycheck. These are "today" things.

You may want to jump into the middle of something because you are excited. Trust me, I live this every day, I know this feeling well.  There is this thing called "process". Its prep time, learning, refining, getting our heart ready. Some days I wish there were a fast forward on prep time.

Fear Not!  Those dreams, desires, hopes and callings don't just die; they will live inside of you, waiting for the right Today.

No, not everything is a today thing. Many things clamor for the top of the today list. Today things will be done on the appropriate today with the open door.

Make your "to-do list", line up chores and errands. Schedule the carpools and sleepovers, plot the family dinner nights, night out with friends. Then, set a prep time. Take a class, read a book, start a blog, something that sets the stage. Something that helps you prepare for the right today.

If something residing deep inside your heart gets moved from this today to the next today, it's OK. The right today is on the horizon, you just need to be ready. A bright sun will always announce today's arrival and closer to your today.

"For there is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens." Ecclesiastes 3:1 NIV