Different...

I giggled – really it was more of a howl -- when I read the fabric care instructions on the cowboy’s new T-shirt: “Wash in warm with like colours”

I mean really – where in the world would I find ‘like colours’?

Do you have anything in this fluorescent green? What do they even call this colour? It’s like nothing I have ever seen before – not even in the 80’s when we all dressed in those crazy peacock shades.

Where in the world did he get this shirt anyway?

Pretty sure I didn’t buy it – I’d remember that shock, for sure…

Hmmm…what to do?

Being just a tad frugal, I could not run the washing machine for only one t-shirt. So I stuffed it in with a load of jeans and other dark pieces, singing all the while…

One of these things is not like the others,

One of these things just doesn't belong...

…and fervently hoping that crazy shirt wouldn’t wreck the rest of the load.

Much later, with that image still burned in my brain, and that song still rattling around in there, too, I thought about differences…

Deuteronomy 14:2 says,

 For thou art an holy people unto the Lord thy God,

and the Lord hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself  

I don’t really like the idea of being peculiar. I’m long past ‘peer pressure’ but nobody likes to be considered weird, and sometimes just identifying myself as a Christian, has put me in that category.

But when I checked the translation, I learned that “peculiar (cgullah pronounced seg-ool-law) means wealth, jewel, peculiar (treasure), proper good, special.” (Lexicon)

Ah, so it doesn’t mean Christians are weird. We’re just loved by God. We’re His treasures, jewels.

Woo hoo!

I know a few Christians who use that phrase ‘peculiar people’ to justify obnoxious behaviour. Oh, boy, are they ever going to be disappointed.

And to get that crazy ‘Sesame Street’ song out of my head, I started singing the chorus:

 For we are a chosen generation

 A royal priest hood

 A holy nation

 A peculiar people…

A peculiar people indeed.
Not to ‘be like the others’ but instead to: 

 

Show forth the praises of Him

Who has called us out of darkness

Out of darkness

Into his marvelous light

Into his marvelous light.

 What a marvelous truth.

Now back to the shirt in the laundry...

My eye socket pain has all but vanished, and the ‘peculiar’ shirt is back in the cowboy’s dresser drawer, waiting to be treasured another day.  If you see a certain ‘glow’ in the sky near ‘the end of the road’, you’ll know the treasure is out once again.

WHEN IT'S ALL BEEN SAID AND DONE

The desire for personal ‘fame’ is greater now than ever. In fact, it seems that no one wants to slip through ‘unnoticed’.

Do we link ‘fame’ with acceptance? Maybe it’s because we think that only the ‘noteworthy’ count.

Whatever the reason, in a world where most people desire ‘fame’ more than anything else, I was delighted to read about Gordon Phillips in my most recent university alumni magazine.

You know the kind of reading…articles of alumni doing interesting things…and then a column sandwiched somewhere between the covers with short snapshots submitted by each graduate. I read through looking for someone I might know, and didn’t find any. (not sure what this says about my class...but...)  For the most part, these entries involve three areas: career, publication, and awards.

Here is a sampling:

1. assignment as political counselor to the Canadian High Commission
2. appointed Judge of the Court of Queen’s Bench of Alberta
3. presented his school’s work at the International Conference on Learning in Barcelona, Spain, last year and has co-authored five textbooks
4. chairman of the Calgary Police Commission
5. contributed a short story to the anthology evolve: Vampire Stories of the New Undead. It’s the first anthology of its kind and her story can be found on page 101

But, back to Gordon Phillips, who painted a very different picture:

Gordon Phillips, BSc’69, has received no awards, honorary or otherwise. He has been granted no titles and belongs to no major organizations. He has never been elected or appointed to any position. You will probably not have read anything that he has written. He lives in Vancouver with his patient wife Diane and some of their five children, practices law and is as happy as a clam.

A huge grin  broke out on my face; Gordon Phillilps, you made my day.  Thank you for this breath of fresh air. Thank you for validating the lives of countless others who, too, are happy as clams, despite their lack of awards, publications, and the noteworthy career movement.

But then, I thought about what really does matter.  It isn't awards, publications, or careers.  But it isn't just being 'happy as a clam' either.  So I turned to God's word: 

“The Lord says: Let not the wise man bask in his wisdom,

nor the mighty man in his might, nor the rich man in his riches.

Let them boast in this alone:

That they truly know me,

and understand that I am the Lord of justice and of righteousness

whose love is steadfast;

and that I love to be this way.”

Jeremiah 10: 23,24

Indeed, when all is said and done, only one thing matters.
Click on the play button on "Joey's Tunes" at the top of the page, to listen to Robin Mark as he shares…

When it's all been said and done,
there is just one thing that matters:
Did I do my best to live for truth?
Did I live my life for You?

When it's all been said and done,
all my treasures will mean nothing.
Only what I've done for love's reward
will stand the test of time.

Lord, Your mercy is so great
that You look beyond our weakness,
and find purest gold in miry clay,
making sinners into saints

I will always sing Your praise
here on earth and ever after.
For You've shown me Heaven's my true home,
When it's all been said and done.

You're my life when life is gone.

When it's all been said and done,
there is just one thing that matters:
Did I do my best to live for truth?
Did I live my life for You?

Lord I'll live my life for You.

Welcome Spring!

Spring is my favourite time ... especially after a long winter.

The sun’s warmth coaxes new life from the barren land…and everything looks cheerful once again.

Here at the end of the road, the crocuses have gone to seed...

but the buffalo beans are out…

The spring storms are out and about…

greening up the pasture quite nicely…

The creek gurgles more than its usual trickle…I can hear it from the verandah if I listen closely.

A new little filly arrived last week…

These parents have their hands full…

The Saskatoons are blooming…

And even the tulips opened their sunny faces…

Welcome, Spring, I’m so glad you’re here. With your presence, I am reminded that all things become new…

II Corinthians 5: 17 says, “…if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!”

Thank you for the wonder of your creation, Father...

The miracle of new life, both in the world, and inside me.

One Minute Sermon

In a world filled with distractions, sometimes it's hard to hear the still, small voice of God.

In this short video, Tamara Lowe reminds us about the only thing that really matters.

A Time to Grieve and a Time to Dance

GG came to visit not long ago, sporting a lovely necklace – the first ‘girly look’ I’d ever seen on her. Immediately, I thought about my locket from long ago.

The one with pictures of my two boys. One lives in a city 45 minutes away; the other lives in Heaven.

I showed her how the locket opens...

and explained that the picture was her daddy when he was a baby. I didn’t mention that the other one was her uncle…the one who lives in Heaven. She’s too young to understand, but she will…one day…

Many years ago we suffered the worst loss – our 18 month old son. Our first-born.

It was a very black time in our lives, but I held fast to my faith…and slowly – very slowly, the shadows lifted, and life resumed.

Each year, though, on little Jay’s birthday, my heart broke once again, and I started over. When the calendar showed the approaching date, I remembered, and dreaded the inevitable: a sorrow-filled day. We’d make it through that day. Life resumed. And then, again the next year, it would happen again. I wondered if I would ever face that day without such heaviness of heart.

One year, several years after our loss, we received an invitation to my cousin’s wedding. My heart dropped when I read the date. May 2nd. Of 365 days on the calendar, they had choosen our little Jay’s birthday. I just knew it would be a very hard day for us, but we decided to attend, anyway.

The second of May dawned brightly, and I was so busy getting ready to go, I didn’t look at the calendar. We dressed in our finery, drove to the country church, listened to solemn vows, and prayed for the bride and groom as they began their lives together. From there we travelled to a little community hall, enjoyed a wonderful dinner, joyously danced in celebration of fresh new love and new beginnings. We visited with family members we don’t see often enough, and others who are now gone…

Exhausted with that ‘good kind of tired’, we arrived home. It wasn’t until I was getting ready for bed, that I glanced at the calendar and remembered the date.

I’d made it through.

It hadn’t been the day I’d dreaded. In fact, it had been wonderful. It was at that precise moment, I knew I was healing. There truly is

a time to grieve

and a time to dance. 

(Ecclesiastes 3:4b)

Of course, that wasn’t the end of my grieving. But it was a turning point. It was the re-birth of a long-forgotten joy; a much-needed emotion.

If you are in the depths of sorrow;

an inky black hole you can't seem to escape,

hold fast to the One who

gives power to the tired and worn out, and strength to the weak. 

(Isaiah 40:29)  

The carpenter from Nazareth,

the King of Kings

 and Lord of Lords. 

He knows your suffering; he knows your pain. 

Give your burdens to the Lord.  He will carry them.

(Psalms 55:22)

Happy Anniversary, Bobby and Carol. May God bless you all of your days.

Yesterday I learned that my friend had a new grandbaby, born on May 2nd. Welcome to the world, wee Jaime Paul. May God bless you, as well.

He Has Risen

When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus' body.

Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other,

"Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?"

But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away.

 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side,

and they were alarmed.

"Don't be alarmed," he said.

"You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified.

He has risen!

He is not here."

Mark 16: 1-6

Worthy is the Lamb

Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,

to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength

and honor and glory and praise!

To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb

be praise and honor and glory and power,

for ever and ever!

Revelation 5: 12, 13b

Go for the Gold

Photo credit:  Lifeway Christian Stores

Over the last several days, I've watched with amazement, the outstanding stamina and determination of the Olympic athletes. I've also noticed a common thread in their interviews: they credited their parents for guiding them along their paths...which ultimately led to their Olympic success.

I've also been thinking about our last Bible study. A highly eclectic group of women get together once a week to study the book of Esther, using material from Beth Moore. Last week, one young mom spoke candidly about finding God's destiny for her life.

I could totally relate to what she said -- it would be so much easier if God gave us 'big' jobs and told us very clearly what to do, like 'go save the Jewish race'. I would understand this, and take on the mission with fervor. However, when my goal this day is to catch up on the laundry and figure out what to make for supper, it just doesn't seem that God is using me for any purpose at all.  And I really want serve Him!

Can you relate?

But what if God really is using you right now, where you are?

What if, by your day-to-day actions (like laundry and supper-making), you are touching lives and building into those lives, a faith that will take them ‘all the way’?

What if, in your desire to complete 'loftier' work, you missed this crucial calling?

Would it keep your children and others you touch, from 'running with perseverance the race marked out for (them)' that we read about in Hebrews 12:1?

If you wonder if you’ve missed God’s plan for your life, think about those Olympic athletes who credit their parents' guidance and support.  Know that your role in your home and neighbourhood is crucial to others. You may not see the evidence from day to day when you are drowning in laundry and dirty dishes, but it may impact not only those you know today, but the lives of those in generations to come. Keep on encouraging everyone in your life in their relationship with God. You are laying a foundation that will stand forever --one worth far more than bronze or silver or gold.

And, who knows, if God hasn't put you in this very place 'for such a time as this?'

Work With a Smile :-)

One of my jobs here at 'the end of the road', is taking our trash to the county dump.

We don’t have garbage pick up, so it falls to us to haul our own.

While we do compost, and re-cycle where we can,

we still manage to gather some garbage,

and out it must go.

Today was ‘dump day’.

I arrived early --

about 20 minutes early.

But I didn’t have to wait,

because the manager arrived right behind me.

He unlocked the gates,

and opened the trash receptacles.

With still about 15 minutes to go,

he was ready for customers.

I thought about that on my way home.

In a world where most workers arrive ‘on the dot’,
this fellow was early.

And I wouldn’t be surprised if he stayed late, too.

In a world where most workers are quick to say,
“That’s not in my job description,”

this fellow has helped me unload stinking, messy trash.

I have no idea if this chap is a follower of Christ or not.

But I know that in this way,

he is following the teachings found in Ephesians 6: 9,10.

“Don’t just do what you have to do to get by,

but work heartily, as Christ’s servants,

doing what God wants you to do.

And work with a smile on your face,

always keeping in mind that

no matter who happens to be giving the orders,

you’re really serving God.”

(The Message)

It’s very easy for me to grumble about menial and messy tasks.
Remembering that I’m ultimately serving God, in all my work,

brings on a smile.

And that makes a world of difference.

Through a Glass, Darkly

The weather here at ‘the end of the road’ has been anything but typical in the last few weeks. Until our recent Chinook, we had lots of white stuff; I was beginning to call this, ‘the winter of the big snow.’
We had even started to plan our annual ‘snow party’ for the neighbour kids. However, I now look out on bare fields and hills and know that unless a big snowstorm heads our way, we won’t be celebrating with toboggans and snowmobiles any time soon.

One of the most unusual things about the weather has been the fog. For several mornings, I’ve looked out into a thick blanket of mist. This morning I couldn’t even see into the coulee.

I know the coulee is behind those clouds, (check the picture at the top of this blog) but on a morning like this, I have to trust that it is because I don’t see it.

This lack of vision reminded me of Paul’s writing to the church of Corinth (1 Co 13:18)

 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face:

now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

Sometimes, (dare I say many, many times?) I have to remind myself that in this life, I won’t see things very clearly. Some things just don’t make sense. That’s because I can’t see them from God’s perspective. But one day, when I am complete, I will see Him face-to-face, and all the answers I lack now, will be made clear.

Until then, I’ll look into the fogginess, trusting that my Heavenly Father sees it all with true clarity, as He unfolds His plan for my life.