Us

A Head Covered By Prayer

When we were at our favorite thrift store the other day, Jane found a precious panda bear hat for Teddy.  Since the hat had no price tag I took it to the register and inquired.   The lady seemed to be sure it was $8.00 even though it had no price.   Now at thrift store I don't expect to pay retail prices.  I told her that sounded a bit high and said I would not buy it.  As Teddy already has a warm hat, this was an unnecessary purchase.   Well, the little kids and I went to pick up the big kids at school.  I felt increasingly bad that I had not gotten the sweet hat for Teddy.  In the realm of things, $8.00 to make a little boy feel special is nothing.   After the big kids packed into the car, I turned around and went back to the thrift store.   We found the hat again and took it to the register.   This time I was resolved to pay the $8.00 and not worry about it.   I told the new cashier that there wasn't a price on the hat.   She crisply responded, " It is $2.00."

"I'll take it."

There is really no story here if it hadn't been for what Jane told me on the way out the door.   She relayed to me that in the car on the way back to the store, Teddy asked, "Do you think we should pray to God that the panda hat is $1.00?"

Some of you may be skeptical that God answered the voice of a child, because the hat was a dollar more.  However, I am convinced that for a hat to drop $6.00 in thirty minutes God gets the glory.
 

 

Now when I see my cute son wearing his black and white hat, I will be reminded and assured that the Creator God who spoke into existence pandas is also speaking to those who bow their heads. My son, who isn't yet a believer, was prompted to pray to his Creator who cares about every little detail of his life.   May you never forget that God blesses us with more than we need and listens when we call to him.  The evidence is on Teddy's head.

 

 

When the Dog Eats Your Cape

I need a hero.  There is nothing I need more.  It may surprise you in a day when us, mortals, are suppose to be superheroes and wear capes even when we sleep that mine went missing.  I think I had a soft, pretty cape when I was much younger, more invincible and had less worries.  The sadder and wiser me thinks the dog ate my cape.  Wherever I place the blame, I can relate so well to 2 Corinthians 4:8-10.

"We are hard pressed on every side...perplexed... persecuted...struck down."

Those of you who know that verse realize that I left out the best part.  Here enters my hero.

"We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body."

My Glorious Hero allows himself to be crushed when I am hard pressed.  He substituted himself for me.   My Glorious Hero captures my tears in a bottle when I am perplexed.  He numbers them each like the drops in the ocean.  Flee, despair; I matter that much to him.   

Psalm 56:8
"You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle. You have recorded each one in your book."

My Glorious Hero shows me his pierced hands and feet and whispers his presence in the midst of persecution.  My Glorious Hero knows what it is like to be struck down, and he knows what it is like to be destroyed.    And on the cross in his dying breath when he said, "It is finished", he meant it.  Jesus made those he called eternal. I can never be destroyed.

Jesus gives himself in overflowing measures.  He is always sufficient for the need.   Every time people, things, institutions and should-be securities disappoint us, we must turn our eyes away from circumstances and fix our eyes back on our Great God.  

From Isaiah 6, we know this Glorious Hero's cape fills the temple.  May our hearts and minds, the new covenant temples, be so filled with the cape of his Presence that there is no room left for doubts and discouragement.  When everything comes unravelled, may I hold tighter to the indestructible cape of Jesus who brings hope and peace to all he covers.

Camping with Beavers

We took a much needed trip away from the craziness.  It was incredibly restful to not have Ben's cell wake us at 3 in the morning, to not have 4 hours of homework every evening, to not have anyplace to go or do.   We took in miles of hiking, crystal clear water and perfect camping weather.

 

Ruggedly Good-Looking