He is King

Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7

Sometimes we feel so much afraid of what this life might bring
of sickness, death and loneliness, of pain and suffering.

And the bigger that these fears become, the more we need our King,
who’s the King over death,
the King over want
the King over suffering,
the King over lack and loneliness.

He’s King over everything.

God’s strength is that of hurricanes.
He is wisdom, power and might.
But unbounded is His love for us.
He keeps us in His sight.

He holds us in His massive arms and holds us through the night.

In the Desert

Isaiah 35

The desert and the parched land will be glad;

the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. 

Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom;

it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy. 

The glory of Lebanon will be given to it,

the splendor of Carmel and Sharon;

they will see the glory of the LORD,

the splendor of our God.

Strengthen the feeble hands,

steady the knees that give way;

say to those with fearful hearts,

“Be strong, do not fear;

your God will come,

Do you see the splendor of God in the desert, in your desert? Can you see the twisted tree continue to live, to breathe life into your desert? Are you that tree, sprouting, living, or giving shelter? Are you that tree – continuing?

God has given us the beauty of the twisted to see how He works in our lives as well. We are twisted, but we can still live, and more than that - we can rejoice and blossom.

Sometimes we feel twisted and broken and we wonder if there will ever be anything to rejoice about. But God will strengthen our feeble hands, and steady our knees. He will say to our fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear:”

Your Choice

It’s your choice!

Will you wallow in the darkness, or look up to the light?

With all the “yuck” that’s going on in the world today, it’s so easy to get down, to feel depressed, and to wallow in the darkness of life. With the availability of bad news at every turn in the road or at every click of a button, it is impossible not to hear and be touched by the trials of our times.

But do we hear and see just as easily – right before our eyes, the light, the beauty, the good, the honorable, the sweet and pure? It’s there, you know. In fact, it’s easier to see because it’s in our own back yards.

A friend recently sent me a captivating video clip of an older Marine veteran singing the Star Spangled Banner. He sang the forth verse.

“Oh! Thus be it ever, when freemen shall stand
between their loved home and the war's desolation!
Blest with victory and peace, may the heav'n rescued land
Praise the Power that hath made and preserved us a nation.
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto: "In God is our trust."

And the Star - Spangled Banner in triumph shall wave
O'er the land of the free and the home of the brave!”

That gentleman singing with no accompaniment but with a heart full of love for his country demonstrated an elegance of the soul that shines through when any man looks at the light.

I recently saw a beautiful smile on the face of a single mom who is struggling to raise her son with joy and gratitude for the life God has given her. When you ask her how she’s doing, her response is always a heartfelt, “just wonderful.” Life isn’t easy for this precious woman, but she chooses to bask in the light of her young son’s bright smile.

The brilliant sun is bringing warmth today. The cat is stretched out in the sun, shining through the living room window. The horses are out in the corral soaking in the sunshine. Animals revel in the light, the sunshine.  This morning when I went out to feed the horses, our gelding, Marshall, put his head down against my leg and asked to be rubbed. He nuzzled my furry hat and stood there, not moving, just being close, even though he had to be hungry. How can you not see the beauty and the wonder in that?
Breakfast today was Cream of Wheat for me and grits for Ron - simple, warming, comfort food.  On a day like today, Cream of Wheat was a gourmet feast.

There are so many other demonstrations of “the good” that come to my thoughts right now, the love of my husband and children, my granddaughter’s telephone call yesterday (she’s only 11), the beautiful view outside my window and . . . I could go on and on. Of course there are people who would say, “boy, she’s easily entertained” and maybe I am, but for me it’s a choice. I choose to be delighted with life. I choose to see the beauty. I choose to look at the light..

Time Out

When our children misbehave we might put them in “Time Out.” That sounds like such a negative thing. When a football game gets too stressful or changes need to be made, the coaches call a “Time Out.” That's a little more positive.

Time, according to my wonderful Thesauruses, can be an interval, era, date, point, instant, hour, or period. There’s more, but that will suffice.

If you look at Ecclesiastes 3 in your Bible, you’ll find an interesting look at time.

There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity under heaven:

 a time to be born and a time to die,

a time to plant and a time to uproot,

 a time to kill and a time to heal,

a time to tear down and a time to build,

 a time to weep and a time to laugh,

a time to mourn and a time to dance,

 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

 a time to search and a time to give up,

a time to keep and a time to throw away,

 a time to tear and a time to mend,

a time to be silent and a time to speak,

 a time to love and a time to hate,

a time for war and a time for peace.

This summer, this day, this hour there is a time for everything. Not necessarily time for everything, but A time for everything. There is a specific time that God has given you for every activity you need to do.

Tomorrow, you might want to consider taking a “Time Out” in the earliest part of your day to thank God and praise Him for giving you this time, and then, I'm sure, you will find the time for what He’s given you to do.

The Angel with Lopsided Wings

On the front of the stage in the Maple Street Church
stands an angel with lopsided wings.

He fidgets and wiggles. 
He scratches his nose. 
He rolls up his eyes,
taps the beat with his toes.

Then he sings.
He sings. 
He Sings. 

Though his halo has slipped and his wings are askew,
this freckle faced boy sings with joy that’s brand new.

He sings, Yes, he sings.

Then in come the shepherds, the cattle and sheep. 
The innkeeper is there with a voice low and deep. 
Soon the light shines on Mary holding her child. 
And the golden haired angel stands so still. He’s beguiled.

The congregation is quiet - It is dark and serene -
as they watch once again, that dear Christmas scene.

Then out of the darkness, in a voice sweet and clear, 
filled with tender devotion and love, they would hear
the Angel with lopsided wings - as he sings.

“Away in the manger no crib for his bed,

the little Lord Jesus lay down his sweet head. 

The stars in the sky look down where He lay,

the little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.” 

The leader is startled. She raises her hand. This solo was never a part of her plan.
Then she stops in midair and with tears in her eyes
she listens, and watches the angel, and sighs.

Then again it is silent, our heads bowed in reverence,
‘cause this song came from deep in the heart of the child. 
It spoke love with abandon.  It was honest and real. 

It was worship,
fresh,
pure,
undefiled. 

May we always remember God’s story. 
May we always remember to sing.  
May we love with the angel’s abandon - the angel with lopsided wings.

© Diane Gruchow 2010

Little Hands

This is just a little something that I wrote one day for my daughter, years ago when she was struggling with the “everydays” of raising her two boys.  I thought it might still be helpful to someone. 

Little hands reach out for mama.
Little hearts reach out for love.
Little voices whisper bedtime prayers
to their Father up above.


When you tiptoe to their bedroom,
and see an angel’s sleeping face,
does your heart fill up with love and fear
cause God has put you in this place?


Little fingers in the kitchen
painting peanut butter scapes.
Little hand prints on the window.
Chocolate mustache on his face.
Playtime noises, children's voices
asking who and what and why.
Lego blocks and puzzle pieces,
on the floor they multiply.


And if sometimes you feel like crying
when there’s so much to do,
being mama to these little ones,
don't forget that God's with you.


Little arms reach out for mama.
Jelly kisses on your chin,
and then you thank your Heavenly Father
for these precious gifts from Him.


Little hands reach out for mama.
Little hearts cry out for Love,
and at night you whisper bed time prayers,
saying, “Thank you God above.”


© Diane Gruchow 2010

Wonder

I saw something wonderful yesterday. There were big, white, doily-like, beautiful, life-giving, water filled cutouts – snowflakes floating gently from the cloud filled skies.

Yes, I know that snowflakes mean that the cold, long winter is on its way. But right now, in these quickly passing minutes, the velvet soft flakes fall, kissing my face and settling down on the thirsty ground. I believe that, whenever your eyes and heart are focused on the beauty of the individual snowflakes, you’ll be filled with an overpowering sense of wonder.

I’ve been reading a book by Ravi Zacharias entitled Recapture the Wonder. It’s a fascinating look at the topic. Although I would never be able to adequately summarize the beauty of Ravi’s writing, or the depth of his knowledge and insight, maybe as I write these words I will be able to tease your appetite, encouraging you to listen some more of this godly man’s thoughts.

Ravi begins the book by talking about the “thrill of wonder and the irresistible urge to share it.” He asks how we can retain that sense of wonder though the ups and downs, the highs and lows of our lives. His beautiful answer is that “we can only do so with the touch of the Master.”

Hope is a part of man’s being. Man wants to hold on to the wonder he had as a child. He lives in the hope that he won’t ever lose that breath-holding awe that comes from seeing, hearing or feeling something way beyond his own ability to describe or sometimes even to understand.

Ravi talks about the song, The Lost Chord, which has been a favorite of mine for many years. He says that,”Deep within every human heart throbs the undying hope that somebody or something will bring both an explanation of what life is all about and a way to retain the wonder.”

In this book Ravi quotes many authors that I have never read, and some that I’ve had a small taste of. Many times he tells us about those people so that we have an idea of where they are coming from in their thoughts. It is broadening to be exposed to the ideas of so many people in one book. He also uses quotations from the scriptures liberally which establishes the credentials that must be there for this or any work to be taken seriously.

A beautiful quote just before Ravi begins to explain wonder is that of the poet John Donne, ”There is nothing that God hath established in the constant course of nature, and which therefore is done every day, but would seem a miracle and exercise our admiration, were it done but once.” Isn’t that true? Look around you, if only one flower ever poked its glorious head out of the ground it would be a cause for bold write-ups in the newspaper, for TV specials, for admiration and awe. If only one tiny baby was born, imagine the unbelievable stir that would cause. The events that God has established are miracles, but since they happen over and over again we cease to feel the wonder of them. Are we even looking?

© Diane Gruchow 2010