My kids bought me a Ragdoll cat.  No kidding, there’s actually a breed of cat called Ragdoll!  They are mostly white, long-haired beautiful cats with sweet, lovable dispositions that make good companions.  They are so relaxed they actually go limp when petted, hence the name. The one downside is they don’t like to be left alone.  The perfect cat, really, for someone like me who spends a great deal of time in a home office and could use the company. 

And so my family and I took the long trek to the breeders; I with a brand new carrying case and cat toy; my grandchildren with an assortment of names: snowball, sugar, fluffy . . . .  But instead of getting a female, like I planned, I fell in love with a male who had the most beautiful blue eyes and cute chocolate colored tipped ears. The seller, being a good breeder, wanted to give him a thorough grooming and going over, so I couldn’t take him home as planned. But this week I’ll get Cody.  That’s the name we settled on. 

So as I wait for the big day, I ponder the goodness of God.  He has created such wonderful things for us to enjoy, not only nature in all its beauty, but other creatures as well; creatures with diverse personalities and qualities.  He made something for all of us, even the most discriminating.  We just need to take time to enjoy it: that sunset, the trees with their changing colors, the birds overhead, the scurrying squirrels, the . . . .

Until next week,

Sylvia

Nothing rocks your world like the loss of someone you love.  And recently I lost my best friend to cancer.  But what I learned throughout the process is this: God’s grace is truly sufficient. He can and will take you through with remarkable tenderness and care.  Oh, how great He is and how much He loves us!  Like in that famous “footprints” piece, He will carry you when you are unable to walk. 

The other thing I’m learning is that faith blunts pain.  Since I believe in a literal heaven and hell, and since I believe Jesus’ words when he said “I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man comes to the Father but by me,” (John 14:6) and that “in my father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you,” (John 14:2) I know that my beloved friend is living in a realm that is wonderful beyond my comprehension because he too believed these things.  And whenever I grow sad over my loss I remember that even now God is rejoicing over my friend with singing.  Oh, I have my moments.  Grieving must run its course but faith provides a wonderful tonic, a balm to ease the way.

For all those who have suffered loss, God is not only able but willing to be there for you; to carry you when you don’t think you can go on; to bind up your broken heart and give you beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness (Isaiah 61:3) Rest assured He will not leave you to face this alone.

Until next week,

Sylvia

The Harry Potter mania has been bothering me for a long time, especially since I know of many Christian parents who endorse it.  My kids, who are grown now, accuse me of being too black and white.  I suppose I am, especially when it comes to scripture.  Long ago I had to decide if I believed the Bible was true or not.  You see, I didn’t especially like everything it said. In fact, I would have liked to do my own “cut & paste” job, omitting those things I found uncomfortable and keeping those things that weren’t. But after much study, soul searching and arguing with God, I finally came to the conclusion that the Bible is His inerrant Word. Period.

Regarding Harry Potter, here’s the problem. Parents are accountable to God for what they allow or don’t allow in their homes; and what they allow or don’t allow their children to do.  So my question is this: if God forbids a thing, can a Christian, in good conscience, practice it or endorse its practice without offending God?  I think not.  The Bible makes it perfectly clear, in numerous passages, that witchcraft, sorcery, etc. is forbidden, as in Deuteronomy 18:10-12. “There shall not be anyone found among you who makes his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who casts a spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead.  For whoever does these things is detestable to the Lord.” This is just one scripture, but there are others.

Because the Potter books often read like a manual for witchcraft, and because each succeeding book has the potential to draw a child deeper into occultic arts, I can’t view them as harmless entertainment.  Kids, as a rule, go through various stages, often feeling ugly, unloved, unpopular, misunderstood.  Just like Harry Potter!   And when they’re going through this how easily they can be drawn to the Potter books, and through them see a way, via the occult, to empower themselves by manipulating others.  Indeed, the people at the WICCA (white witchcraft) website have claimed that since Harry Potter and TV programs like Sabrina the Teenage Witch, they can’t keep up with all the requests they’re getting for information.

The Bible tells us that we will know them (those things and people that are either good or bad) by their fruits. If something inspires our young people to violate the Word of God, how can it be good?

Just my two cents.

Until next week,

Sylvia

The other day my husband, who wasn’t feeling well, asked me to make chicken soup, because when he’s like that he enjoys nothing better than hot broth. We all have foods that comfort us when our bodies hurt or we are feeling poorly.  But what about the times our hearts or minds hurt?  What do we do then?

I, for one, go straight for the Psalms.  I love them.  Honest and full of raw emotion, they always have a way of speaking to me when I’m at my lowest.  Check this out: “Save me O God; for the waters are come in unto my soul. I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing: I am come into deep waters where the floods overflow me.  I am weary of my crying: my throat is dried: mine eyes fail while I wait for my God.” (Ps 69:1-3) Wow!

But the Psalms are also uplifting and encouraging, as well as instructional. Take for instance Psalm 27: 1, “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?  The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”  You read and meditate on that for awhile and I guarantee your troubles will seem a lot smaller.  And how about this one which is speaking of King David: “Thou hast given him his heart’s desire, and hast not withholden the request of his lips”—a golden promise to us “kings and priests” if ever there was one.  Then there’s this: “Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord” (Psalm 27:14)—a mini refresher course on how to gain victory. And of course this in Ps 90:12, “So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom” which is a great reminded that we’re not going to be here forever so don’t waste your time on the silly stuff.

Oh, what wisdom and comfort can be found in the Psalms!  They are my hot broth.  If you’ve never sampled them, maybe you will the next time you’re feeling poorly.

Until next week,

Sylvia

This week an unexpected trip to the dentist to re-glue a temporary cap made me feel a bit like a vintage car in need of some new parts. I suppose that’s common when growing older.  In restaurants, I’ve sat by enough seniors to learn that much of their conversation is filled with ailments and meds.  Not a happy prospect, or is it?

Actually, I’m learning that getting older has many advantages.  The foolishness and impetuous nature of youth is long behind you. The disappointments of middle age where one comes to grips with the fact that he or she will NOT change the world, is forgotten.  What’s left?  Contentment, and hopefully some wisdom:  the contentment to enjoy life for what it is, and the wisdom to separate the extraneous from the vital.

Everyone who comes to this place must decide for themselves what fits under their “vital” column.  For me, it’s God and family and friends.  So simple, isn’t it?  But then, when you strip everything away, life really is simple.

Here’s to getting older!

Until next week,

Sylvia  

This weekend I helped someone paint a room.  It was gratifying to see the space take on a fresh new look.  As marks and scratches were covered over the room actually appeared friendlier, happier, and for some reason, it made me think of how the “rooms” of our minds and hearts get marred and scratched, too, and when they do, how we need to go to God for a fresh touchup. 

It’s then that He applies His brush dipped in love and grace to those dents and bruises, and we, like that room, become friendlier and more loving to others, and happier, too.  I can’t imagine living life without frequent touchups from God, but many people do. They live with cobwebbed and debris-filled rooms, with marred and damaged walls; places hostile to themselves and others, when all they have to do is allow the Carpenter’s hand to repair and refurbish.  And oh, how He delights in doing this! I only pray we allow Him access.

Until next week,

Sylvia

Not too long ago I went to someone’s surprise 50th birthday party.  Trouble is, not too long ago this someone was in his twenties, or so it seems.  Where did the time go?  It feels like it’s just slipped away. And the older I get, the faster it seems to slip.

I’m at the point in my life where I can laugh at all those jokes regarding creaky joints and “early bird” specials. I can laugh because I can relate.  But it’s also sobering, too, because it makes me realize that my time is limited, and so is yours, and we need to be using it wisely.

How often have we promised ourselves that this is the year we are going to completely read through the Bible, or join a Bible study or maybe even start one, or volunteer for that new outreach at the church or . . . .

Though 2010 has already streaked by its midway point, there’s still time to make this the year when we actually accomplish the thing for God He has been gently nudging us to do, because before we know it we’ll be going to our friend’s 60th or 70th or 80th surprise birthday party, and we don’t want to look back and say, “oh, I wish I had done this or that.”

We need to be about the Father’s business; to use our time doing the job He has assigned us. Only God knows the number of our days, and that number will be different for each of us.  Let’s use them wisely. 

Until next week,

Sylvia

Lately, I’ve been struck how the world is changing at an alarming rate.  What was in yesterday is out today.  Up is the new down, and down the new up. The unthinkable has become the thinkable.  Not that many years ago who would have thought that our public schools would want to teach sex ed to first graders?  Or that our government would be bent on spending us into bankruptcy in spite of our objections? Or that a Libyan mass murderer would be released from prison as part of any oil deal? Or that the teachers we entrusted our children to would molest them?  And the list goes on.  It’s enough to make your head spin. 

There are some who’d like us to believe that we are in the enlightened age, that all this change is just part of progress, that the world has become smaller and we just need to get in step and go along for the greater good.  And that if we do, we’ll be marching into a better world. 

Odd how the Bible differs in this.  It says that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever.  He never changes, and that means neither does His precepts. What He valued yesterday He values today.  What He said was right yesterday, whether concerning finances or morals, is still right today. So why are so many Christians buying into the changes we see? Two words: double mindedness.  Believe me, it’s not an enviable position because the Bible says that a double minded man is unstable in all his ways, that he will be tossed to and fro like a wave by the wind, and that he should not expect to receive anything from God. (James 1: 6-8)

Still, the temptation is great to cleave our minds in two, one half conforming to the world, the other half to the things of God. Even if we don’t want to, we are pressured on every side. And I believe this pressure will only intensify as the world worsens.  And the world is sure to get worse before it gets better.  That means more than ever Christians must remain single minded, and be “not conformed to this world but transformed” if we hope to live lives blessed by God and firmly under His care.

Oh, LORD, that we may be single minded!

Until next week,

Sylvia

This week I had the privilege of watching my grandchildren for a few days.  I wanted to come up with a project to keep them busy so I had them make a puppet theater out of a cardboard box.  My job was the curtains while the kids came up with a script, made paper puppets, props, the crayoned scenery, and 25-cent admissions tickets, as well as the concession stand tickets for 5-cent bowls of popcorn and banana pudding. Of course we did other things too, like play games and swim and watch Disney’s Mary Poppins, but a good deal of time was spent on getting ready for the “big show.”

The kids were excited and busy at their task for the first two days, but by day three they had had enough.  It took some gentle prodding to get them to finish, but they reaped great rewards when their parents came home!  Oh, the excitement then!  The camera snapping, the hugs, the numerous exclamations! And by the look on my grandchildren’s faces, I knew they were glad they had seen the project through.

I came away thinking that in many ways I react the same way when God assigns me a “project” or has me go through something that requires a good deal of effort on my part. At first I’m determined, perhaps even excited that I will encounter God in a new and deeper way.  Then tedium sets in.  I weary of the task.  I yearn to return to that which is easier or more familiar, and all the while there is God prodding me on. And the end is always the same.  If I persevere I reap the rewards—I feel God’s pleasure.

I know at times we all become weary of well doing but the Bible says that we will reap in due season if we faint not (Galatians 6:9).  And that’s worth going the distance.

Until next week,

Sylvia

Yesterday, across America, people celebrated Independence Day.  In essence it was the celebration of freedom.  And oh, what a great thing that is!  And what a great country we live in!  Though in some ways I see our freedoms eroding, I believe we still live in a land where we are free to dream and then make those dreams come true; where we are equal in the eyes of the law regardless of our race or social position; where we are free to practice the religion of our choice. But it all came with a price.  And someone else had to pay it.  It wasn’t free at all.  People died, blood was shed, families were separated, and hardships endured, and on July 4th our nation remembers that.

But there’s another freedom, even more precious, that also was paid by blood and separation and hardship.  It’s the freedom from sin and death that Jesus purchased for us at the cross.  And oh, how costly that freedom was!  But how willingly Jesus paid it!  Those of us who are called by His name know the freedom of which I speak.  It is the freedom that a clear conscience brings after knowing you are forgiven from every wretched thing you’ve ever done; the freedom from fear of the future, for our future is in His hands; the freedom that comes in knowing that our eternal destiny is sealed.

I love my country and value it greatly.  But our life on this planet is so brief—a passing vapor the Bible calls it—so the freedom we should seek, the freedom we should prize about all others is that which is found in Christ, for it is the freedom we will enjoy throughout eternity.

I hope you all had a happy 4th!  God bless America!

Until next week,

Sylvia