Mar 14, 2011 | Baby Photos, Prayers in Poetry & Prose
These are the beautiful days
when arms barely reach above
heads and lips slowly purse together
and pout as sleepytime stirs to
dreamy wakefulness
These are the beautiful days
when a tiny person’s entire being
seems employed in the joyful art of a
good wake-up stretch
These are the beautiful days
when tiny eyes seem fiercely blue
while heads tilt back, mouth open,
chin quivering, because being on the outside
is such hard work
It’s been said that freedom has a scent
like the top of a newborn baby’s head
And though I didn’t get to hear those lyrics in concert,
it’s a privilege to daily stop
and smell the music.
xCC
Mar 12, 2011 | The Good Word
Do you ever feel like you’ve just gotten too far off the right track? Ever secretly wonder if there’s actual hope for you, despite what you perceive as a season of continual shortcomings, filled with mishaps, regrets and mistakes?
You’re not alone. There’s a verse that came to mind during a conversation the other night that was refreshing to my soul. It has been a source of refreshing for me for years:
But if from there, you seek the Lord your God, you will find Him if you seek Him with all your heart and with all your soul. {Deut. 4:29}
Moses spoke these words to the children of Israel, around the time that their years of wandering in the desert were coming to a close. He was encouraging obedience to God, but also aware that God’s chosen people were going to miss the mark. He wanted to make sure they understood that even when they were so far away from God — scattered in other lands and serving other gods — even from there they could seek the Lord. When they turned to seek the Lord and began to obey His voice again, they would find His mercy.
At times when I’ve felt so far away from God, so sure that I had a mountain to climb to get back to Him, to earn my way into His good graces again, He has reminded me of this verse. And He’s pointed out that “from there” is anywhere. No matter how far away we feel. No matter what we’ve gotten ourselves into, no matter whether we’ve never sought Him before, or we walked with Him for decades and then quit — from there…any there, we can turn. If we seek Him wholeheartedly, we’ll find Him.
From any there.
The mercy of God can almost seem scandalous. How could the Prodigal receive such a welcome? His Father didn’t expect him to earn his way back into the family — though the son was willing — he saw what was in his heart. No mountains to climb. No flaming hoops to jump through. A hug and a ring and a robe and a fattened calf.
Amazing grace.
No matter where you feel like you are right now, know that the Father’s arms are open. No matter how far your there might seem, if from there, or there or even there, you are welcome.
That’s why it’s amazing. And that’s why it’s grace.
xCC
Mar 10, 2011 | The Good Word
In certain philosophies and religions, and perhaps among persons who are uncertain of much more detail about the Creator of the Universe, God is simply known as “the one who moved first.” And while that doesn’t encapsulate a millionth of the fullness and greatness and overwhelmingly-big-ness of the Almighty that Christians believe in, in some ways, it’s a very good place to start.
As the Book of Joshua comes to a close, a recap is made, by the Lord, through the words of Joshua to the people of Israel. Starting back with the father of Abraham, God recounts the story of His faithfulness to set apart the children of Israel as His chosen people. Abraham is given Isaac; Isaac, Jacob and Esau; Jacob and his children go down to Egypt, and the Lord delivers them out of slavery. They cross the sea, dwell in the wilderness, and eventually the story is clear that they’ve been brought out to be brought in — into the fullness and goodness of a land God has promised them.
God makes a way before them…clears a path and delivers a land into their hands which they haven’t worked for, cities which they didn’t build. The story of Israel is the story of the faithfulness of God. He doesn’t make efforts to point out the shortcomings or doubts of His people — He tells the story of His faithfulness.
He moved first.
His moves were moves of faithfulness — a God choosing a people and blessing them. And as the story ends, so Joshua concludes: “Now therefore, fear the Lord, serve Him in sincerity and in truth, and put away the gods which your fathers served on the other side of the River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord!”
What does God ask for in response to His first move? A second move. Our move is a move toward faithfulness. A commitment to fear and to serve Him with all our hearts — and not to be divided between serving the Lord and serving other lowercase-g-gods.
Joshua famously makes his decision, his second move, clear. In response to the faithfulness of God he says “You must choose who you will serve… But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”
It’s interesting that the Book of Joshua doesn’t begin with the people’s choice to serve God. That is never the story. The story is always of the God who is looking for me and for you. He moves first. He demonstrates His goodness and faithfulness — clearly seen even in His creation — and then it’s our move.
“You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.” {John 15:16}
In view of the mercies and goodness of God, here we stand each day, always presented with the opportunity of the second move.
He gives you this day, you choose how to live it.
He gives you this breath, you choose how to breathe it.
He gives you this heart, you choose what to devote it to.
What a glorious and golden privilege it is that the Creator of the Universe, the One who Moved First, daily extends the invitation to each of us: yours is the second move.
xCC
Mar 9, 2011 | Stories, The Parenthood
We bought the Bear these fridge magnets when we were in the Carolinas (they were only $1 or something). I had visions of him standing peacefully in front of the fridge, magnets collected in one tidy corner, me saying words and helping him to spell them out, him searching and finding and lining up letters, entertained and learning at the same time.
But he has other ideas.
He prefers to take each letter, one by one, say the letter aloud, and put it in line. He starts with one colour, and then works his way through, from red to yellow to blue to green and pink and orange, and once his line has made its windy way across the fridge, he begins to go down the side of it so that the work can continue. Twenty-six carefully-placed letters later, he is happy with his creation, and he claps and cheers at his accomplishment.
In big ways and small ways, I’ve seen that life has a way of happening differently from how it would have if I was always in control. And though sometimes the picture isn’t what I had in mind, at the same time, it very often seems, it is just so much better.
Is it possible that my way is not the best way? What beautiful food for thought.
Do you ever relinquish control and feel really glad you did?
xCC
Mar 8, 2011 | Baby Photos, Travel..ling Tuesdays
As you may or may not have guessed, we haven’t been doing too much travelling since Baby Brother arrived on the scene. Especially since Big Brother decided to give his baby bro his first ever brother to brother gift: a cold. The wee one is a little congested, and I think he probably has a sore throat. That’s my best guess anyway, because the Bear was generous and gave me his cold, too. But we’re all already recovering nicely…not too much to worry about there.
There’s a nice peace that seems to rest over a home (at least this has been my experience) for the first wee while after a new baby arrives. Around here, there is still a bit of Bear-sized rumpus, but for the most part things seem pretty calm and relaxed. So this Travelling Tuesday, you can join us here in Gordon’s Bay, where we’re settling in with our new bundle of joy…enjoying peace, and a bit of rumpus in turn.
One little Bear is delighted to have Goo-goo and Gammy’s attention…
…another just kind of seems to wonder what everyone is looking at.
The big boys have been hard at work around the house…
And one little boy has been hard at work eating, sleeping, and looking cute for the camera.
Big brother is learning to sing songs, say his ABCs, and do the airplane on Dad’s feet with no hands. He has even begun mastering the art of pee-peeing standing up!
Little Brother is definitely learning — we can see it in his eyes — we’re just not sure what he’s figuring out yet.
So we’re enjoying (mostly) peace and quiet around the house this Travelling Tuesday! I hope your Tuesday is going great…and that you’re enjoying your adventure today!
xCC
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