A Wrestling Match

It has been one of those years, and I'm not talking about since January.  For some reason in my mind, the end of this August is the significant end of a year's time - my first in New Zealand.  As eager as I was to get here, I sure did wrestle with being here once I landed, and God has certainly had me on the mat more than a few times in the past 12 months!

Amazing to think that if I had only surrendered at the beginning I might be further along, but as they say, "hind sight is 20/20" and there is no use pining over what could have been.  I am looking forward to seeing what the active side of surrender looks like as I once again lay my life at God's feet and ask Him to empty me of myself and fill me with Jesus.

One thing that I have come to realize is that I cannot expect big things of God if I am not willing to get serious about my end of things and do the daily things I am responsible for.  No more slacking off.

Dear Lord, I need help!  On my own, I'm no good...lazy...selfish...grumpy...disorganized.  Please show me what can happen when I lean on You and do what is right.  May the next 12 months be a continued testimony of God's faithfulness in my life.  Thank You for slow and repeated starts.  Please keep me moving forward.

Hard Things

I've been reading a lot of the Gospels recently and this morning was struck by the thought of the job done by Joseph of Aramathea.  He was the one who went to Pilot and asked to have the body of Jesus.  Pilot was surprised that Jesus was dead so soon, but upon confirmation of that fact, was quick to give Joseph the okay to take Jesus down from the cross.

I'm not sure what got me thinking of the common threads of this part of the story, but there are things that I have not heard mentioned before that need some thought.  Imagine, if you will, Joseph of Arimathea.  Mark says that he goes to Pilot and asks for Jesus because of his devotion to God.

Joseph loved God.  He believed Jesus.  When he saw how Jesus was treated his heart probably broke.  Now God had a job for him to do.  It wasn't the most pleasant of jobs, not one that would get many volunteers, but this was something Joseph could do to show his devotion to God.  What better thing to do than to take care of God's Son?

Now, imagine the logistics.  Jesus is up on a rough wooden cross, barely clothed.  Blood, sweat and tears mingled together on His face and blood, sweat, skin and wood fragments mingled together on His back.  Did flies gather on the One who created them?  What would Joseph do about those huge nails?  I think if he was the one to physically take Jesus off of the cross, that he did it as gingerly as possible even though Jesus was dead.  I can see Joseph looking away out of respect as he covered Christ's body and carefully picked Jesus up to take Him to the tomb.

What if the soldiers took Jesus down?  Were they careful about the removal of the nails from Christ's hands and feet?  Did they jerk him around, still being in the disrespectful mood from earlier in the day?  Or perhaps they were a bit more kind, circumstances having changed something in their minds.  Maybe they were thinking to themselves, "What if Jesus really was the Son of God?"  "What if we were wrong to do this?"  How little they understood that there was nothing they could have done to prevent this event from happening, that it had been recorded through the ages since the first sin in the Garden...that this happened even for them, should they understand and believe.

I think Joseph had a hard job, but it was one that allowed him to honor the God he loved and served.  So many times God calls us to do hard things.  Do we look at the circumstances and say "No thanks, God, this is going to be too messy."  or "I think I'll pass on this one, surely I'll be ok if I just keep quiet and don't bother anyone.  I know God has someone else who can do this in my place."  Oh, how we would like to tuck tail and run the other way when hard things are presented.

How pleased is God when we step up to the plate and say "Okay God, this looks to be a rough one, but with You at my side and as my Shield and Defense, I'll move forward!"  or "I have no idea what comes next.  God, You are in control and I need you to guide me!"  I think this is what He longs to hear from us.  He is just waiting in the wings with His sleeves rolled up waiting to go through the muck right by our side.  I think He is eagerly sitting on the edge of His throne waiting for our joy upon reading His promises and comfort from His Word.  When we do find the gems He has for us, I think there might be a great chorus of cheering and "Amen" from those who have gone before when they see that our Father is happy we are finding the treasure in His Word.  Treasure they now see face to Face.

Isn't that a great thought?

**Additional note** (July 31, 2010) Luke records that Joseph of Arimathea was a counselor who had not consented to the counsel and deed of them.  Luke 23:50-51.  So, what do you suppose his life was like after the resurrection.  Surely the other counselors heard about his activities.  Did they ridicule him?  Call him crazy? Black list him?  How many of his co-workers changed their minds about the Messiah after talking with him in the days and months to come?

What courage he had to do hard things!

Focus On...

...Mustard Seed Faith!

Stuff

Today is a packing day.  I have slowly been weeding things out of my own stash of stuff - clothes not worn, things not used, etc - and giving great thought to the idea of simplistic living.  We are moving into a smaller space for a few months so this brings my focus to any space saving ideas I can find.  It will be interesting to note as the days go by, how going from big house to cozy den affects our attitude.

Someday I would like to live in a house that has a hand powered kitchen.  The only challenge would be in making toast and blending juices/nut mixtures.

This brings me to the question of: What else do I absolutely need to use that pulls from the power lines?

• computer and printer
• cd player/radio/tv - cds and tv can be replaced by listening/watching on exclusively on the computer
• oven and stove
• sewing machine and iron - although we recently saw a machine that was powered by hand crank
• washing machine and dryer - hanging clothes to dry is a much used option at our house
• battery charger - for kids' hand held video game, portable cd player and our cameras

Hmm.  Less than many, more than most.  I am very blessed.

Focus on FUN!

Have fun in your command. Don't always run at a breakneck pace. Take leave when you've earned it, spend time with your families.  ~ Colin Powell

This week, Friday was "Fun Day".  We celebrated by visiting the police station so that I could get my fingerprints taken for paperwork.  The officer then did both of the kids for fun.  I told them that should they ever become delinquents, they would already know what the inside of a police station looked like.  He got a kick out of that, and said that the delinquents get their finger prints done digitally as it is so much easier, especially for those that don't particularly care to participate in the process.  Mr. E assured me that he had no plans to become a delinquent!  :)

After another short errand, we hopped on the #10 bus and rode to the Wellington Zoo.  This month they are offering half price admissions on Fridays, so we had to take advantage of the savings.  It was such a wonderful visit that I would have gladly paid full price.  We ate our lunch while observing the Sun bears, 

and just happened upon the Giraffes at snack time - where we got to feed them special tree leaves by hand!  Their muzzle is not quite as soft as a horse, but just being able to look one in the eye and feel its breath was a once in a life time experience for me.

Miss A loved the Sun bears (as did I) and Mr. E enjoyed the Meerkats best of all.  We all liked the geckos - they have sticky pads on their feet, and enjoyed a rest in the shade as we watched the zoo vets taking x-rays of some feisty possums.

The one thing that struck me over and over during our visit to the zoo is that the God who made me created all of these amazing animals! I saw jewel toned colors and geometric patterns in the feathers of birds, familiar faces in the Tamarin monkeys, and the variety of His inspiration in every single creature in the zoo.  Nothing can match the creativity and majesty of God.  Yes, God cares for His creatures...but isn't it great to know that God loves us best of all?

John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life."

Incredible, what happens when the focus is fun.  Perhaps I won't wait so long until next time!

Falling Up

This was meant to be posted yesterday, but in trying to stick to my somewhat rigid bedtime schedule, I opted to hit the pillow instead of the keyboard.  So, two posts for today. 

Amazing what a little focus can do.  It seems to bring clarity and purpose.

I have now started writing my "to do" list, and it brings satisfaction just knowing that things are written down so I can look at that list and not have to rely on my [sometimes shoddy] memory.

So often we go through our lives doing the daily things and feeling like nothing is getting finished because we are in a whirlwind of busy-ness.  I hope to stop long enough each evening to give a moment of purposeful thought to the things that will come on the morrow, collect my thoughts and make my plan.

Things I am currently focused on:

• Scripture Memory
• The Life of David
• Praying for Many Friends and Loved Ones
• Teaching my Children
• Growing my Business

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven..." Ecclesiastes 3:1

2010

2010 - My Year of Focus!

Simplistic Sundays - getting back to basics, balance, faith and fulfillment.
Muse Full Mondays - celebrating creativity, curiosity and learning.
Tenacious Tuesdays - are exciting and full of hope!
Worthy Wednesdays - anti procrastination day.
Thankful Thursdays - with an attitude of gratitude.
Focused Fridays - addressing goals and organization.
Self Talk Saturdays - am I speaking and believing truth?

Let's Start at the Very Beginning...

This is the day I look at my goals and organization. What am I doing to move forward? What needs more work? Where can I improve?

On this very first of Focused Fridays, I am happy to report that I started this blog to record my progress of focus throughout the next year. There are many areas that need work in my life, but I'm taking baby steps and look forward to the journey!