When my daughter Chelsea was young we enjoyed going to garage sales together. They were like treasure hunts to us; we never knew what unique item or great deal would be unearthed with each stop.
When Chelsea was of preschool age she would scour every sale in search of board puzzles, thoroughly scrutinizing each one to make sure all the pieces were accounted for. She loved putting them together and would spend hours at it. As soon as she finished one, she would flip it over and assemble it again, thrilled each time her picture was complete.
Before long she wanted more of a challenge and she quickly graduated to several-hundred-piece puzzles. As a teenager, she enjoyed displaying her completed masterpieces on her bedroom walls.
But one garage sale gamble of a large, 500 piece puzzle, did not pay off. After several days of laboring over it, just as Chelsea was putting the last few pieces into place, she realized it was one piece short.
“Oh, no. I have to throw it away, Mom,” she lamented. “It’s missing a piece.”
I felt bad for her and quickly suggested that we search for it. We looked all over her room, on the floor, under her bed, and even inside her closet. The search, however, proved futile.
“I wonder if we could make a fake piece to fit in its place?” I offered, knowing when I said it that it wouldn’t work, but wanting desperately to help.
Finally, I begrudgingly assisted Chelsea in throwing it away.
Later that evening I began to ponder the similarities of how each one of us is just like that puzzle; each of us are incomplete, too. God purposely creates in us an emptiness in our lives that can only be filled by a relationship with Jesus. While many of us attempt to fill that void in our life by “making a fake piece” through indulging in outward pleasures, God’s word tells us that we will not have inner peace until we make peace with His Son. When we sincerely ask Jesus to forgive us of our sins and come into our heart to live, He fills the void inside of us, causing our hearts to overflow with love and joy, and especially …peace.
Jesus completes the picture between God’s holiness and man’s sinful state. Jesus is the perfect fit.
Friday, September 24, 2010
Monday, September 13, 2010
Always an Example
We are always being watched by someone. Each one of us is an example to others, good or bad. Christians in particular are being watched by the world, especially when we go through tough times. While some people watch us to see how strong our faith is, others are actually looking for a good example to follow when they themselves face challenging situations.
I was blessed to have one of those life changing Christian-based examples when I was just a child of eleven. While attending my grandfather’s funeral I witnessed an inner strength in my grandmother that has stayed with me all of my life. My grandparents had been married for more than 50 years and I knew that Grandma loved the Lord with all her heart. But what really surprised me was the peaceful countenance she displayed throughout the entire funeral process. I had assumed she would be absolutely devastated; after all, fifty years is a very long time to live with someone. But when I witnessed her serene demeanor, I was taken aback.
I did not know Jesus personally during that time. I did know, though, that my grandmother had a relationship with the Lord that was a priority in her life. She made an impression upon me at a young age simply by praying out loud regularly and leaving her Bible lying open when I visited her. I knew she regularly had Bible studies with friends and that she attended church whenever the doors were open. Grama was a sweet, peaceful person who would readily throw her head back in laughter when she was tickled by something.
Even though I didn’t completely understand my Grandmother’s faith, I was definitely drawn to it, and never more so than at my grandfather’s funeral. When I finally saw my Grandma’s face in that sea of mourners, and then witnessed her inner peace throughout the funeral process, it drew me to her Jesus, even as a child.
“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these” (Mark 10:14).
God has used that memory of “faith amidst the storm” countless times in my life. It is one of those “pillar of strength” reminders of the peace that can only come from a relationship with Jesus; a peace that passes understanding. Most gratefully, that same peace is now helping me to endure my own struggles in life.
That’s not to say we shouldn’t cry or grieve over the loss of a loved one; even Jesus openly wept. But God wants us to “not be as one without hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13). That is, in our sorrow we still believe that God is sovereign. We are to live our faith, even through the tough times, with the hope of tomorrow.
While weeping may remain for a night, rejoicing comes in the morning (Psalm 30: 5). We can rejoice in the promises that God give us, so that after we are gone, our memory, too, will be a pillar of strength to others, pointing them to our heavenly Father.
The peace of God is much greater than the human mind can understand. This peace will keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Phil 4:7 NLV).
We are always being watched by someone. Each one of us is an example to others, good or bad. Christians in particular are being watched by the world, especially when we go through tough times. While some people watch us to see how strong our faith is, others are actually looking for a good example to follow when they themselves face challenging situations.
I was blessed to have one of those life changing Christian-based examples when I was just a child of eleven. While attending my grandfather’s funeral I witnessed an inner strength in my grandmother that has stayed with me all of my life. My grandparents had been married for more than 50 years and I knew that Grandma loved the Lord with all her heart. But what really surprised me was the peaceful countenance she displayed throughout the entire funeral process. I had assumed she would be absolutely devastated; after all, fifty years is a very long time to live with someone. But when I witnessed her serene demeanor, I was taken aback.
I did not know Jesus personally during that time. I did know, though, that my grandmother had a relationship with the Lord that was a priority in her life. She made an impression upon me at a young age simply by praying out loud regularly and leaving her Bible lying open when I visited her. I knew she regularly had Bible studies with friends and that she attended church whenever the doors were open. Grama was a sweet, peaceful person who would readily throw her head back in laughter when she was tickled by something.
Even though I didn’t completely understand my Grandmother’s faith, I was definitely drawn to it, and never more so than at my grandfather’s funeral. When I finally saw my Grandma’s face in that sea of mourners, and then witnessed her inner peace throughout the funeral process, it drew me to her Jesus, even as a child.
“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these” (Mark 10:14).
God has used that memory of “faith amidst the storm” countless times in my life. It is one of those “pillar of strength” reminders of the peace that can only come from a relationship with Jesus; a peace that passes understanding. Most gratefully, that same peace is now helping me to endure my own struggles in life.
That’s not to say we shouldn’t cry or grieve over the loss of a loved one; even Jesus openly wept. But God wants us to “not be as one without hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13). That is, in our sorrow we still believe that God is sovereign. We are to live our faith, even through the tough times, with the hope of tomorrow.
While weeping may remain for a night, rejoicing comes in the morning (Psalm 30: 5). We can rejoice in the promises that God give us, so that after we are gone, our memory, too, will be a pillar of strength to others, pointing them to our heavenly Father.
The peace of God is much greater than the human mind can understand. This peace will keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Phil 4:7 NLV).
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Reflections on Reunions
A few weeks ago was yet another high school class reunion. It has been ten years since I’ve attended a reunion and I was very excited about it. Before the actual date, one of the organizers sent me a list of those who were confirmed to attend. As I scanned the list I smiled at many of the names, reliving some of our fun times.
The week after our class reunion we had an out of state family reunion on my mother’s side. I wasn’t able to attend due to a writer’s conference, but as I reflect on family times together, they too, cause me to smile at the memory of the good ole days with beloved aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Of course not all memories are pleasant. For instance there was the classmate my sophomore year who spread a false rumor about me, devastating me for weeks. Then there was the uncle who chided me for being in the dessert line – again. Not all of our gatherings create good memories, and understandably some reunions can leave you feeling inferior. It can be hard not to compare yourself to those who are the same age, whether it is an ex-classmate or a cousin, and hear how they have become the CEO of a large corporation or the principal of a school. Some get-togethers can cause you to feel as if you haven’t done anything significant with your life, which isn’t always a bad thing; it can spur you on to taking that leap of faith to change your course in life for the better.
But this recent class reunion was somehow pleasantly different from all the rest. Gone were the masks that we girls, especially, would wear as we would try to impress others with our outer appearance. Of course we all wanted to look our best, but quite frankly that was not what mattered the most. Over the years the masks have fallen off and in their place was a heartfelt love for one another. What seemed to matter most was that we were all still here, especially since eight boys from our class have passed on. And one of our girls almost didn’t make it; Mary, a veteran of the Iraq war. It was especially touching to see her as she walked into the room with a cane. It was obvious that Mary had been through hell and back, but most thankfully, in the process she found God. Of course He had always been there; she’d just never been so desperately in need of Him before.
And that was my prayer as I drove home in the dark that night following the reunion; that each one of my classmates would, if they haven’t yet, come to realize that Jesus died for them and that they needed to open the door of their heart and invite Him in. As I rounded the final curve of my drive home I suddenly came upon a brief, light fog in the valley where we live. It reminded me of the verse from James 4:14: “What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes”. And it’s true; much like that patch of fog – we are here one minute and gone the next.
As another reunion closed, our goodbyes to one another were bittersweet, all of us probably wondering if we would ever see each other again. Yet for those of us in Christ we know that our earthly goodbyes are always temporary, for we have an eternal reunion to look forward to.
I couldn’t help but see a few similarities between the two: at our class reunion we sat on picnic tables with cement underfoot, in heaven we’ll be walking on streets of gold. And a few guys brought guitars and we had a “jam session”, but in heaven ear has not heard the melodious sounds of the majestic, heavenly choirs singing praises in chords that we can’t imagine. And then as we shared our physical ailments and how almost all of us were wearing bifocals now, I couldn’t help but ponder how in heaven our bodies will not decay or age. (And of course the women are hoping chocolate will be there in abundance – and we won’t have to worry about it going to our hips!)
Yes, there is much to look forward to at that Reunion to beat all reunions. I truly hope you’ll be there.
“I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again” (John 3:3 NIV).
The week after our class reunion we had an out of state family reunion on my mother’s side. I wasn’t able to attend due to a writer’s conference, but as I reflect on family times together, they too, cause me to smile at the memory of the good ole days with beloved aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Of course not all memories are pleasant. For instance there was the classmate my sophomore year who spread a false rumor about me, devastating me for weeks. Then there was the uncle who chided me for being in the dessert line – again. Not all of our gatherings create good memories, and understandably some reunions can leave you feeling inferior. It can be hard not to compare yourself to those who are the same age, whether it is an ex-classmate or a cousin, and hear how they have become the CEO of a large corporation or the principal of a school. Some get-togethers can cause you to feel as if you haven’t done anything significant with your life, which isn’t always a bad thing; it can spur you on to taking that leap of faith to change your course in life for the better.
But this recent class reunion was somehow pleasantly different from all the rest. Gone were the masks that we girls, especially, would wear as we would try to impress others with our outer appearance. Of course we all wanted to look our best, but quite frankly that was not what mattered the most. Over the years the masks have fallen off and in their place was a heartfelt love for one another. What seemed to matter most was that we were all still here, especially since eight boys from our class have passed on. And one of our girls almost didn’t make it; Mary, a veteran of the Iraq war. It was especially touching to see her as she walked into the room with a cane. It was obvious that Mary had been through hell and back, but most thankfully, in the process she found God. Of course He had always been there; she’d just never been so desperately in need of Him before.
And that was my prayer as I drove home in the dark that night following the reunion; that each one of my classmates would, if they haven’t yet, come to realize that Jesus died for them and that they needed to open the door of their heart and invite Him in. As I rounded the final curve of my drive home I suddenly came upon a brief, light fog in the valley where we live. It reminded me of the verse from James 4:14: “What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes”. And it’s true; much like that patch of fog – we are here one minute and gone the next.
As another reunion closed, our goodbyes to one another were bittersweet, all of us probably wondering if we would ever see each other again. Yet for those of us in Christ we know that our earthly goodbyes are always temporary, for we have an eternal reunion to look forward to.
I couldn’t help but see a few similarities between the two: at our class reunion we sat on picnic tables with cement underfoot, in heaven we’ll be walking on streets of gold. And a few guys brought guitars and we had a “jam session”, but in heaven ear has not heard the melodious sounds of the majestic, heavenly choirs singing praises in chords that we can’t imagine. And then as we shared our physical ailments and how almost all of us were wearing bifocals now, I couldn’t help but ponder how in heaven our bodies will not decay or age. (And of course the women are hoping chocolate will be there in abundance – and we won’t have to worry about it going to our hips!)
Yes, there is much to look forward to at that Reunion to beat all reunions. I truly hope you’ll be there.
“I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again” (John 3:3 NIV).
Friday, August 20, 2010
The Passing of the Torch
(As of July of 2010 I have become the weekly inspirational columnist for 5 newspapers in central Ohio. The following article is my first column, giving homage to my dear friend and fellow writer, Faye Landrum. I hope to blog my columns a week or so after they are published. Enjoy!)
The Passing of the Torch
It is with both a heavy heart and a twinge of excitement that I write this first column. The usual author, Faye Landrum, has been a dear friend for almost 15 years. If you’ve been following her musings you know of her love for the Lord, and how she lives to serve Him. However, all things must pass, and Faye is now passing the writing torch on to me.
When I first met Faye at a monthly writer’s meeting she shared that she was approaching 70 years of age. I was immediately impressed because not only did she not look 70, but she did not act it. Most of us, as we age, become increasingly drawn to our comfort zone and are less excited about stepping out of our box. We hesitate to try new things and we don’t like to push ourselves; instead we look for the easy way out. But when Faye was faced with a challenge she would most often choose to embrace it, wanting to know the best and quickest way to deal with it so she could get on with life. And over the years, as I came to know, admire, and respect her, I witnessed almost every new decision being bathed in prayer.
Not only was Faye my dear friend, but she was also my mentor. The dictionary defines “mentor” as, 1) a wise and trusted counselor or teacher, and 2) an influential senior sponsor or supporter. Faye was both, and more. She was my spiritual mentor; I was her Timothy and she was my Paul (New Testament scriptures). And she was my writing mentor, too, regularly encouraging me to keep at my gift of writing; reminding me that there were a lot of hurting people in this world who needed to hear that God loves them and is there for them. Her dedication to the craft would remind me to only submit my best work, because “after all, we are writing for the Lord”.
Yes, I knew early on that I was sitting at the feet of a wise servant of the Lord. And seeking wisdom myself, I took advantage of every opportunity to learn from her. We traveled many states together, attending writer’s conferences and book signings. I regularly witnessed her humble demeanor in action, especially when strangers would tearfully share their grief over the recent loss of a loved one. Oftentimes Faye would freely give away copies of her “Moments of Comfort” book, or her “Final Mile” book, reminding the recipient to keep trusting the Lord and that He would get them through.
And if one of our many adventures should result in having to take a detour due to a wrong turn, she would usually laugh and remind me that, “getting lost by yourself is a nightmare; but getting lost with a friend is a journey!”
Now it is time for yet another journey, and sadly it is one that Faye and I must each travel alone. I am deeply honored to be filling her shoes in the “passing of the pen” as a columnist for the Post, although they are certainly big shoes to fill. I hope you don’t mind that I dedicated my first column to her; and yes, I promise to only submit my best work. After all, I am writing for the Lord.
Well done, good and faithful servant… the pleasure has been all mine.
The Passing of the Torch
It is with both a heavy heart and a twinge of excitement that I write this first column. The usual author, Faye Landrum, has been a dear friend for almost 15 years. If you’ve been following her musings you know of her love for the Lord, and how she lives to serve Him. However, all things must pass, and Faye is now passing the writing torch on to me.
When I first met Faye at a monthly writer’s meeting she shared that she was approaching 70 years of age. I was immediately impressed because not only did she not look 70, but she did not act it. Most of us, as we age, become increasingly drawn to our comfort zone and are less excited about stepping out of our box. We hesitate to try new things and we don’t like to push ourselves; instead we look for the easy way out. But when Faye was faced with a challenge she would most often choose to embrace it, wanting to know the best and quickest way to deal with it so she could get on with life. And over the years, as I came to know, admire, and respect her, I witnessed almost every new decision being bathed in prayer.
Not only was Faye my dear friend, but she was also my mentor. The dictionary defines “mentor” as, 1) a wise and trusted counselor or teacher, and 2) an influential senior sponsor or supporter. Faye was both, and more. She was my spiritual mentor; I was her Timothy and she was my Paul (New Testament scriptures). And she was my writing mentor, too, regularly encouraging me to keep at my gift of writing; reminding me that there were a lot of hurting people in this world who needed to hear that God loves them and is there for them. Her dedication to the craft would remind me to only submit my best work, because “after all, we are writing for the Lord”.
Yes, I knew early on that I was sitting at the feet of a wise servant of the Lord. And seeking wisdom myself, I took advantage of every opportunity to learn from her. We traveled many states together, attending writer’s conferences and book signings. I regularly witnessed her humble demeanor in action, especially when strangers would tearfully share their grief over the recent loss of a loved one. Oftentimes Faye would freely give away copies of her “Moments of Comfort” book, or her “Final Mile” book, reminding the recipient to keep trusting the Lord and that He would get them through.
And if one of our many adventures should result in having to take a detour due to a wrong turn, she would usually laugh and remind me that, “getting lost by yourself is a nightmare; but getting lost with a friend is a journey!”
Now it is time for yet another journey, and sadly it is one that Faye and I must each travel alone. I am deeply honored to be filling her shoes in the “passing of the pen” as a columnist for the Post, although they are certainly big shoes to fill. I hope you don’t mind that I dedicated my first column to her; and yes, I promise to only submit my best work. After all, I am writing for the Lord.
Well done, good and faithful servant… the pleasure has been all mine.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
For the Love of Facebook
I, like millions of others, have become caught up in the world of Facebook.
I told myself I wouldn't - but after much pressure from my kids and ex-classmates, I caved. And...I am glad I did. The ministry opportunities are endless! There is such a relaxed atmosphere about Facebook and the way it seems to allow/encourage users to be more open and willing to sharing their heart, that I could spend all day just encouraging total strangers!
Of course, you do see a lot of selfless advertising, and that, too, doesn't seem to bother me too much. If I'm not interested, I simply don't click on the prompt.
But, there is one prompt that I hope, if you see posted on fb, you won't skim over. Yes, I too am unashamedly blowing my own horn. And I have to ask ...is it bragging or promoting yourself, if you are using the gift that God gave you to "promote" Him and how Jesus has changed your life? I truly think not. But this promotion thing is something that Chritstian writers, especially, struggle with a lot. Most of us are very uncomfortable with it, and quite frankly, we don't like the way it takes up our time and keeps us away from doing our actual writing. However, if we want to get the "Word" out, then we have to promote the "words" God gave us. Ohhhh, a vicious cycle, but one we must travel, nonetheless.
So, if you have a few minutes to spare, and would like to learn more about me, please go to the below site that was posted on fb today. (Don't delay, there is a free book giveaway if you sign up at the end of the interview.)
Facebook Author Interview Today: www.sunnebnkwrtr.blogspot.com Enjoy!
Facebook Blessings to You,
Connie
I told myself I wouldn't - but after much pressure from my kids and ex-classmates, I caved. And...I am glad I did. The ministry opportunities are endless! There is such a relaxed atmosphere about Facebook and the way it seems to allow/encourage users to be more open and willing to sharing their heart, that I could spend all day just encouraging total strangers!
Of course, you do see a lot of selfless advertising, and that, too, doesn't seem to bother me too much. If I'm not interested, I simply don't click on the prompt.
But, there is one prompt that I hope, if you see posted on fb, you won't skim over. Yes, I too am unashamedly blowing my own horn. And I have to ask ...is it bragging or promoting yourself, if you are using the gift that God gave you to "promote" Him and how Jesus has changed your life? I truly think not. But this promotion thing is something that Chritstian writers, especially, struggle with a lot. Most of us are very uncomfortable with it, and quite frankly, we don't like the way it takes up our time and keeps us away from doing our actual writing. However, if we want to get the "Word" out, then we have to promote the "words" God gave us. Ohhhh, a vicious cycle, but one we must travel, nonetheless.
So, if you have a few minutes to spare, and would like to learn more about me, please go to the below site that was posted on fb today. (Don't delay, there is a free book giveaway if you sign up at the end of the interview.)
Facebook Author Interview Today: www.sunnebnkwrtr.blogspot.com Enjoy!
Facebook Blessings to You,
Connie
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