Lifetime guarantee

One of my most-used Bibles has started to fall apart. The pages from 1 Samuel to Hebrews can completely lift out in one separate section. Now in theory, I don't have to worry because this Bible came with a lifetime guarantee. Sounds good right? But I have begun to realize how pointless that is.

Maybe you wouldn't have a problem with just turning it in and getting a new one. But my Bibles holds memories. There are notes in the margins, dedications in the front, verses underlined and bookmarks at significant passages. The feel of its cover and heft of its pages are all familiar friends to me. And except for the removable section, it is in quite good condition. It is, in fact, a book I can't just give up for a replacement. I think I can repair it with "Yes" glue (yes - that is the product name), an adhesive I regularly use in art projects and more. Once it sets up, its a very strong hold that can't be broken without damage to the item it's holding.

Do you suppose the publishers of this particular Bible understood that I wouldn't be able to give up my Bible when they offered their lifetime guarantee? Not in any way am I accusing them of underhandedness but really, think about it. If you know it's not going to happen, it's a pretty safe offer to give.

I'm glad that God's lifetime guarantee isn't subject to the same dilemma. It's a take-it-and-take-it offer. All we need to do is say "Yes" and we are stuck to Him in a way that can't easily be separated.

"For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39

It's permanent on God's part. And that's a lifetime (and beyond) guarantee.

"And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:20

So I'm going to go fix my Bible. It's not going anywhere.

What is worthless?

I was reading in my Bible the other day and came across this verse:

"They rejected his decrees and the covenant he had made with their fathers and the warnings he had given them. They followed worthless idols and themselves became worthless. They imitated the nations around them although the LORD had ordered them, "Do not do as they do," and they did the things the LORD had forbidden them to do. 2 Kings 17:15 (NIV)"

Now maybe this is a coincidence but the other book on my bed stand is a book on decluttering your home and your life. And this author talks a lot about STUFF and how most STUFF is worthless and still this STUFF controls our life. And if I was going to be totally honest, he's right. Some of those things that I thought were so important while standing at the store I couldn't get a nickel for in a yard sale. Some of it was bought under the influence of friends (imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, right?) Some because I was trying to keep up with a decorating or fashion trend. There was always a justifiable (at least to me) reason to add that to my STUFF. But now they just sit. They've passed their usefulness to me (if they ever had it to begin with) and they are worthless but I still spend time and energy sorting, storing and moving it from place to place.

And then I read that verse, "They followed worthless idols and themselves became worthless."

Ouch!

I may not worship the stuff stacked around me like I worship God, but I've still been giving it prominence in my life and priorities. And the warning of this verse is that I may become just like it - not worth the price that was paid for me and useless to the one that bought me.

So excuse me - I gotta take some things to Salvation Army...

God's strength

I started a new job yesterday and part of it is getting up much earlier than I am used to so that I have time for the commute and arriving on time to be prepared to begin the day. Like any job, there are pluses and minuses.

But on top of a new (early) routine, I spent time in the middle of the night caring for a sick family member. I would never begrudge them that care but the reality is that this morning I am exhausted and facing another long day. I'm not sure how I'm going to do it.

And then I found this in the middle of a morning devotional.

"He gives power to the tired and worn out, and strength to the weak." (Isaiah 50:29 NLT)

Good. I'll be able to do this after all.

National Sanctity of Human Life Day

Today is National Sanctity of Human Life Day and for the first time, I attended our local pro-life event.

I am pro-life and have always been, but I also always have a hesitation about public pro-life events. My efforts and support have typically been behind the scenes. Maybe it's a concern about possible conflicts. Maybe it's my "Canadian" reluctance to be vocal about my opinions and most deeply held beliefs. Maybe it's the worry that my emotions might get the better of me. Or maybe it's just cowardice.

Today, the emotions did come. As part of the event, 50 white crosses were placed in the ground to signify the 50 million babies that have been lost to abortion in the US in the past 36 years. I have had to grieve my own unborn children and those crosses stirred many emotions again. One million babies per cross. Fifty million mothers struggling with difficult emotions and decisions and grief. Fifty million. In terms of the emotional, psychological and economic cost to this nation, that's an appalling number.

It breaks my heart - for the babies killed by abortion each year, for the women caught in circumstances that make it seem like their best choice, for the women caught in the aftermath of abortion, and for the men and women struggling with fertility issues and a difficult adoption process who also suffer because of abortion.

I could say a lot about my view of the abortion debate and the many stands that people hold. Lately, I have watched the discussions of assisted suicide and euthanasia take many of the same turns. But the verse that keeps coming to my mind presents another side:

"Bloodshed pollutes the land, and atonement cannot be made for the land on which blood has been shed, except by the blood of the one who shed it."--Numbers 35:33b

We are so fortunate that Christ shed His blood on behalf of the ones who shed this innocent blood and that each one of us is covered by his atonement regardless of our sin if we choose to accept it.

But it is still our responsibility to speak up on behalf of those that are being silenced by abortion. To love those hurt by abortion. To wisely confront the epidemic of abortion. To present Christ with a purposed but gentle regard for those that support abortion.

It's time to stop polluting our land.

Butterfly wings

I had an unexpected visitor in my studio a few days ago.

I was working away in a (very) quiet house, when suddenly I heard a sound like paper rustling. At first I thought it was just paper being moved by an air current from the heating system. But that didn't seem right - it was too random for that. Plus the furnace wasn't on.

Thought #2 - maybe it was outside. Okay, but then it came again and it definitely WASN'T outside.

Thought #3 - Great. I've got mice.

I finally screwed up the courage to go over and investigate and couldn't believe it when I saw a butterfly trying its hardest to get out the window of my French doors! The papery sound happened when the blinds would push back against a paper-wrapped mat board that was leaning against the door. The butterfly would fall to the floor when its wings gave out, then climb up the paper wall and try again.

A butterfly?

It's January!

I have no way to keep a butterfly in my home anymore (gave away the butterfly house) and I was afraid it would really damage itself inside so I trapped it in a glass and took it outside. Keep in mind, its Oregon. Houseflies are still buzzing around, hummingbirds winter over here and the sun was shining. It seemed like a better alternative that having it struggling in my windows until it died from exhaustion.

Outside, I sat the butterfly on the deck rail in the sunshine and instantly it snapped its wings flat and held them there. Odd, I thought. Maybe it's really a moth. I really didn't think so but one of the first things children learn in telling the difference between moths and butterflies is that moths fold their wings down and flat and butterflies fold them up and together. It lets them hide from predators because the underside of their wings is usually much less colorful.

Not this butterfly. It's wings stayed flat open. It might fly a few yards, and then it would land again (sometimes even on me) and snap those wings wide open.

And then it occurred to me. It needed the warmth of the sun and the fresh air to rebuild its energy and stamina. It was using its wings like little solar panels. And because it was doing that, I could see the beautiful colors in its wings that might otherwise be hidden. Against my dull lawn and the leafless trees, that butterfly was a spot of color and joy and the promise of spring.



Can I tell you the lesson I learned from this butterfly?

Very often, as Christians, it is far too easy to keep our wings folded - to try to blend in to our surroundings and keep our beliefs to ourselves. Particularly when we are in a difficult situation or feel like we're just struggling to survive, we "close up" so that we won't draw attention to ourselves.

But we have something beautiful to offer. Even when we feel a little ragged around the edges or feel completely out of place, when we open ourselves to the world around us that is when we are best equipped to reflect the beauty of Christ in our lives. And a life that is shining with God's design can be a spot of color and warmth to those that are surrounded by a drab and hopeless existence.

My theory is that this butterfly came into my studio as a chrysalis on some chairs I was given. In the warmth of my home, it hatched ahead of nature's schedule. But I also think this butterfly was a God-sent reminder that He made me to reflect his nature in the place he has sent me to fly. And as I draw on His strength, I will shine, too, with the reflections of His love, His mercy and His warmth to the world around me.

It's time to open my wings.

Clearing out the cobwebs

I was cleaning house yesterday and decided it was really time to sort out some of the stacks that had accumulated over the busy months of November and December (and the busy years of 2007 and 2008, if I'm really going to be honest). I pulled out furniture, cleaned windows, took the blowdryer to silk plants (don't ask), wiped cupboard tops and dusted areas that probably have been sitting for quite some time, to judge by the number of cobwebs.

Now some people enjoy housecleaning. They'll say things like "I really feel like I accomplished something" or "It relaxes me". I, on the other hand, see it as one of the more pointless activities I can do in any given time slot. Why? BECAUSE IT ALWAYS NEEDS DOING AGAIN. Sometimes almost immediately. I'll just finish the dishes and before I've hung up the tea towel, there's another spoon in the sink. Ack!!

But I know it has to be done. So I invited some friends over for dinner (motivation is key) and started to clean to prepare for their visit. And as I was wiping out the cobwebs from a hidden corner of the living room, I thought of this passage from the Bible:

"When an evil spirit comes out of a man, it goes through arid places seeking rest and does not find it. Then it says, 'I will return to the house I left.' When it arrives, it finds the house unoccupied, swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and takes with it seven other spirits more wicked than itself, and they go in and live there. And the final condition of that man is worse than the first. That is how it will be with this wicked generation." Matthew 12: 43-45 (NIV)

I thought, Boy, if I just substitute the word 'spider' for 'demon', that would be an exact description of what happens in my house. I chase one spider out and seven more move in and start spinning.

Of course, there is a spiritual application as well. It's not enough to think we've "cleaned house" and then let our old habits and attitudes creep back in until the corners of our hearts, minds and souls are filled with cobwebs again. We should regularly come to God and have a 'spiritual spring cleaning' to be sure that our house is clean, put in order and then OCCUPIED with God's own presence.

'Cause guess what? He's coming to dinner (Rev 3:20) and I want to be ready for him too.

"Message received"

I was sitting in church the Sunday before Christmas and as part of the service, the pastor asked us to take a moment to silently pray for those serving in the military and for families that would have people away from them this year because they were serving.

Always a good idea, by the way.

So we bowed our heads and a hush filled the room for some 30 seconds. Then out of the stillness came a small, slightly tinny voice.

"Message received."

My first response was a quick grin that someone had been busted with their cell phone on in church.

But my next was amazement at the very tangible reminder. Prayer is really that simple: we pray, God gets the message. Done. And He starts to move.

Wow - "message received."

Worst present ever?

We've all been given presents that weren't really what we hoped for, right? I remember going through the Sears catalog every year at Christmas and marking all the toys or craft kits that I REALLY wanted. Under the tree? I think I got one of those "tagged" toys once. I remember getting two coffee pots as wedding presents. Neither of us drink coffee. I remember giving my mother many cheesy gifts that I picked out as an enthusiastic 8-year-old - and 10-year-old - and 13-year-old. And after this Christmas season you may be wondering how to get rid of that monstrosity from Great Aunt Ethel without hurting her feelings. Or what your spouse was thinking when they picked out that exercise mat/fuzzy purple sweater/power saw/_______(you fill in the blank).

But I had to shake my head in amazement when I read about this wedding present from a dad to his daughter:

"Pharaoh king of Egypt had attacked and captured Gezer. He had set it on fire. He killed its Canaanite inhabitants and then gave it as a wedding gift to his daughter, Solomon's wife."

1 Kings 9:16 NIV

"A burned out city with bodies lying in the streets? Gee, thanks, Dad..."

And then it was left to Solomon to rebuild the city after he had married Pharaoah's daughter. "Gee, thanks, Dad-in-law..."

I have to say that I'm glad God's gift to us was something better. A mansion in an eternal city vs. a charred city. Salvation vs. destruction. A loving relationship vs. a debt of obligation. And it's one size fits all.

Thanks, Father.