The beach was an unpopular place to be yesterday. Off-shore the temperature was just about sixty when our family walked onto the sand. That means that at the oceanfront it was colder than that. The wind was blowing quite strongly – as you can see in the picture to the right. The waves crashed to the shore spraying water high into the air. The poor lifeguards that were on duty made themselves a little fort in the sand out of the beach umbrellas. They were covered in jackets with hoods, long pants and shoes. They looked more like they were working in the freezer section at Kroger than life guarding at the beach!
As we went to lunch I told the girls, “At least it’s not raining today! You know, it could even be snowing, but it’s not! We can be thankful for that!” Allison looked at me and said, “Mom, you sound like Pollyanna.” Whether she meant it as a compliment or not, I took it as one.
Pollyanna was a little girl in a movie that played “The Glad Game.” In any difficult or undesirable circumstance she would try to think of something for which she could be glad. When she found crutches in a box that was sent to her she was glad she didn’t need to use them! She was always searching for something for which she could be thankful.
People that love the Lord should be Pollyanna’s! In every thing give thanks…” is the command in I Thessalonians 5:18. Give thanks in all things. In other words, I am not necessarily thankful for the cold weather, but I need to have a thankful attitude in the midst of it. It’s an attitude that says, “Thank you, Lord, that I am away on vacation enjoying doing things different from my normal routine. Thank you that we are able to have lunch out today. Thank you for health and strength to be here…”
It’s so easy to complain…not so easy to be thankful when things don’t go the way we imagine they should. I’m preaching to my own heart today – my dream about warm sand on my toes and sitting by the pool reading is being traded for a warm jacket and bracing myself against the gusty winds. The forecast is looking not so much like beach vacation weather for the rest of the time we’re here. But I’m thankful the weather’s given me time to work on the new face for my blog! We played a new game as a family last night. I’m reading a library book at night before I fall asleep. All the pictures I’ve taken this week are safely in my computer and put on a scrap blog…all because the weather allowed me the time! This Pollyanna is determined not to whine, but be thankful!
Blinded By Religion
“Our God is in the heavens and he does what He pleases” – Psalm 115:3. Today it pleased God to send rain to HHI, along with cooler temperatures. I don’t believe it ever hit 60 degrees. I read the opening verse in my Bible reading today and said, “Lord, you are in control and you know what we need today and I know we can trust you.” I wondered what would take place today that we would later say, “If it hadn’t rained we would have missed out on…” So I entered the day not especially thankful for the rain, but knowing that my good God sent it and it was okay!
We took the opportunity to do what we wouldn’t want to do if it turns pretty this week, like going shopping! I found some good bargains for my home at my favorite store – TJ Maxx. The girls found Hilton Head t-shirts and other fun things. After several hours of shopping we ended up at Starbucks where hot beverages were ordered to ward off the chill of the 50-something temperatures. As we sat in the coffee shop there were two girls, probably college age, sitting very nearby. You couldn’t help but hear their conversation; they were discussing Catholicism. One was asking questions, the other was trying to answer. I saw her take out her Blackberry and it appeared she was looking for the answer to her friends’ questions.
The other girl, an Asian, mentioned Buddha and said, “He is powerless.” It appeared that the Asian girl was really searching and the catholic girl didn’t have answers…it was obvious. “HHI” came to my mind…”I’m here for Him. These girls need the Truth!” I got out two “Bridge tracts” http://www.cometocalvary.org/thebridge/ As we were leaving I stopped at their table.
“Excuse me, but I couldn’t help but hear your conversation. Can I leave you each with something to read that will answer your questions?”
Immediately the Catholic girl put up her hand in protest. “No! I’m already a Catholic.”
“This isn’t about religion; this will tell you how to have a relationship with Jesus Christ.” I answered.
“That says, ‘The Bridge to Eternal Life’ and we don’t need that” she retorted.
“This will tell you how you can know you have eternal life in heaven when you die.” I turned to the Asian girl, “Won’t you read this?”
“She’s Buddhist and doesn’t want that” the Catholic girl said.
I turned to the Asian girl questioning her with my eyes. “Well, no, but thank you” she answered.
“I respect you for what you’re doing,” the Catholic girl said, “but we don’t want that.”
“Okay then.”
I turned and left, my heart breaking for those girls that have been blinded by religion – man’s attempt to get to God. They weren’t rejecting me; they were rejecting Christ. Satan loves it; it’s one of his best hindrances to people being saved.
What are you trusting in for your salvation? Anything apart from receiving Christ’s sacrifice for your sins is not enough. Nothing we could do will ever save us. Christ did all that was necessary when He died on the cross. Being a good person, giving money to a needy organization, or joining a church are all man’s attempt to cross the bridge to eternal life, but they’re not enough. Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and thou shalt be saved.” Acts 16:31 Please click on The Bridge link above, then see each of the seven points to understand clearer how to know you have eternal life.
If it hadn’t rained today I wouldn’t have met those two dear girls at Starbucks. Now I can add them to my prayer list and pray for them to see the Truth and receive Christ. “Thank you, Lord for a rainy day, and thank you for the precious gift of eternal life.”
HHI – Here for Him
I’m on vacation this week. We’re at Hilton Head Island (HHI). I stood at the beach entrance Saturday afternoon looking out through the sea oats at the sand, beach umbrellas and the ocean and said, “Lord, You are so good to me. Thank you for allowing me to be here at my favorite place again.” I’ve sighed so many times since Saturday. It’s a sigh of contentment, rest, and pure happiness. Here I am for nearly a week at the most beautiful beach with my family and our daughter’s friend who is also celebrating her graduation. Our condo is perfect, we’re next to the pool, school’s over and a summer of special events is before me. God is so good and I acknowledge Him for His grace gifts that He pours out on His undeserving child.
After supper last night we strolled over to the pool where our daughter and her friend were swimming. Just moments after sitting under an umbrella table a man in his late 60’s came to the pool with his daughter and grandchildren. He was very friendly with everyone. He spoke to us, then initiated conversation, asking where we were from, etc. My husband shared with him that we were here to celebrate our daughter and her friend’s graduation from high school. He told him that we had homeschooled Allison all the way through. His interest piqued with this information. As a matter of fact, he then pulled up a chair and began asking questions. I gave testimony about how it was the Lord that led us to the decision to homeschool. He had provided the wisdom and the tools to accomplish the task. He was somewhat blown away that I would spend my time teaching my daughter all those years instead of “running around during the day”! I assured Him it had been a privilege and joy, even on the hard days, because it was the Lord that did it through me.
When this gentleman (Gary) sat down, his daughter and grandchildren left, and I knew in my heart that the Lord had brought him here in answer to my husband’s prayer before we left the house Saturday morning, “Lord, give us opportunities to be a witness for you while we’re away.” was his prayer. Here was our opportunity. Gary began telling us about his life, his occupation, and his moves. As he talked I could see how gracious the Lord had been to this man who was obviously unsaved. God had provided a wonderful job, family, retirement, and now he was enjoying the fruit of all those years of work, yet he was taking all the credit because he didn’t understand or know the God that had been so gracious. Using the Sharing Jesus Without Fear questions, http://www.sharejesuswithoutfear.com/templates/System/default.asp?id=27043 my husband led the conversation to the place where he could ask him who Jesus was to him.
“I’m Episcopalian” was his answer.
“So where will you go when you die?”
“Heaven, I hope! I’ve tried to be the best man I could be.”
I prayed…while my compassionate husband gave Gary the Gospel in simple, biblical terms. This man, who had barely let us get a word in edgewise up to this point, was silent. He listened with great interest, tears filling his eyes at one point.
“Wow, that is powerful” was his response.
It was evident that the Holy Spirit was working in this dear man’s heart.
The invitation was given – “Will you bow your head and trust Christ as your Savior right now, Gary?”
“I will in the privacy of my room tonight.”
“Okay. I pray you’ll take care of it then. God loves you and wants to save you.”
Before we left Gary said, “I knew when I first started talking to you both that there was something different about you. When you told me about homeschooling your daughter, and just how you handle yourselves. You’re different – you know what I mean?”
My heart cries out, Yes, Gary, we know – Christ has made the difference. We acknowledge Him for all we are, all we have, all we hope for in the future. Without Him we would be nothing. Christ gives a purpose for every day of life…even while away on vacation. We’re not here for us or because we deserve a break. No, we’re here for Him (HHI).
Will you pray for Gary? Pray that he’ll trust Christ if he hasn’t done so yet. Pray that the Lord will give us other opportunities to witness while we’re here and that we’ll obey and speak up for Him. He is so good, and we are so undeserving to be used, yet what a wonderful privilege!
Homeschool’s End
Today marks the end. After homeschooling my girls for the last twenty years, today is the last day. Allison has completed high school and will head to college this fall. I am melancholy as I reflect on the years behind me. So often it seemed I wouldn’t see the end of that particular school day, much less the end of high school! But here I am with piles of school curriculum, grade books, test banks, ACT scores, dulled pencils and nubby erasers reminding me of busy years now in the past, and a huge change for both Allison and myself that is just around the corner.
Being a homeschool mom has been a blessing that I have thanked the Lord for over and over again. I did not have formal teaching training – the Lord graciously provided other means to prepare me for teaching my girls. I have never gotten over how wonderful He is to equip us to do His will. “It is God that worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure.” Philippians 2:13
I have learned so much while being the teacher.
- I learned that I desperately needed the Lord every single day if I was to impact my girls for Christ. Sadly, I didn’t do that every day.
- I learned that the Lord is merciful when we depend on ourselves.
- I learned that a child’s heart is so impressionable. What I did my girls imitated.
- I learned that God’s provision for His children is always on time and always enough. Each year when it came time to buy books and curriculum the Lord provided.
- The more I taught, the more I realized how much I didn’t know. I saw that I need to continue to learn.
- I learned that sometimes the best lessons came from unplanned events. Allison was saved as a result of an English lesson. Discipline problems brought opportunities to open God’s Word together.
- I learned that it’s okay to take a break and just have fun. During Allison’s high school years we watched The Andy Griffith Show at lunch. It gave a need relief from the stress of studying!
- I learned that twenty years fly by much faster than a person could ever imagine.
- I learned the truth in III John 4 – “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” If my girls aren’t successful as that world defines it, but love the Lord and walk with Him, I will be happy. I couldn’t ask for more.
As I box up my books and fill out the last grade report my heart is full of gratefulness to the Lord…not for what Allison has learned, but for what He has taught me. I still have so much to learn – I guess perhaps the homeschooling will continue after all.
Like Samuel
Have you ever watched as someone you knew slipped away from the Lord? It’s usually a gradual thing. People don’t generally wake up one morning and decide they’re going to backslide. It happens over a period of time and through a series of events. Perhaps a person has a trial that comes into their life and they have a question as to why this would happen, but then they try to bring themselves back to the Truth of God’s Word and His love for them. However, their thoughts keep leading them to question the Lord, and the comments from others don’t help either. Christians and non-Christians alike wonder why God would allow this to happen to a “good person.”
Someone steps in – maybe it was you – and tries to give godly counsel. The person in the trial is guided to the promises in God’s Word that the Lord is trying to conform them to the likeness of His Son through this difficulty. By now, though, they are becoming cynical and they shake their head as as loving friend tries to lead them to right biblical thinking. They continue on a downward spiral, avoiding church and anyone who points them to God. The tendency for the one that has tried to lead them back to the right way is to say, “Fine, go your way. I hope you reap from what you’re sowing! I’m washing my hands of this.”
As I read I Samuel 15 today I was struck at how Samuel responded to hearing that Saul had not obeyed the Lord. It says in verse11 – “And it grieved Samuel; and he cried unto the Lord all night.” His heart was broken for Saul. Samuel had given Saul much instruction, but spite that Saul chose to go his own way and disobey the Lord’s commands. In verse 35 we read, “Samuel came no more to see Saul until the day of his death: nevertheless Samuel mourned for Saul…” Samuel wasn’t afraid to share the truth with Saul; a reminder, I believe, that we don’t just sit and watch someone sin and be afraid to tell them the truth in love. But we must remain broken over their sin. I believe that Samuel continued to pray for Saul, and even though he watched Saul slipping farther and farther, he loved him and desired that Saul make things right with the Lord.
If there’s someone you know that has drifted – perhaps even in a drastic way, ask the Lord to keep your heart soft towards them, as modeled by godly Samuel. May our hearts be as such as would mourn and cry to the Lord all night for a brother or sister that has wandered. Keep praying, keep lovingly sharing the truth when you have the opportunity. God desires that they return to Him, and it might be due to a Christian friend like you that they will do just that. Let’s be like Samuel.
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