You OK?

You OK?  You good today?  How is your day going?  How are you? 

It seems that every day, whether on the phone talking to family/friends or walking the neighborhood and being greeted by neighbors, this is a standard greeting.  I have to say that I live within a caring world of family and friends and most often my response is: "Doing well!  Yup, good today.  Things are going great!  I am fine."  And, for the most part I mean it.

However, like the picture so clearly reveals, the answer to "You OK?" can sometimes take a bit of time to "untangle" and the reply may be be more than the asker is bargaining for!

Thank you, George Peters, for this great cartoon.  I have kept it tucked in my Bible and never tire of reflecting on it!  It makes me smile.  It makes me laugh!  It also makes me reflect on the tangles, knots and mess in my life that aren't so easily seen by the naked eye.

There are days in my life when I feel all snarled up.  When the tangles of questions, answers, decisions and responsibilities are all tightly held together with no clear beginning or end.  There seems to be nothing but a snarled up ball of life moments and I am stuck in the middle of the whole mess.

So, what can we do when this picture is an accurate picture of our current state of mind? What can be done when we feel like we are in the middle of snarled up tangles that are overwhelming and that leave us stuck?  

First, as the picture so clearly shows - share with a friend.  The value of a friend can never be  overstated.  A friend, of course, may not have any more answers than you do, but a friend can stand with you as you undo the tangles and straighten out the snarls.  A friend can encourage and support plus prove to be a great helper in times of trouble! 

Secondly, be a friend to yourself.  Allow yourself time to sift and sort, to undo tangles and restore your line to what it was meant to be.  Practice positive self talk:  "I can do this.  I am smart.  I can figure this out.  Rome wasn't built in a day - this may take some time, but that's OK.   I can ask for help.  I will ask for help!"  

Thirdly, celebrate each step going forward!  Cultivate thankfulness and gratefulness.  Find the blessing in each tangle, every knot, no matter the circumstance, 

"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

and lastly, Pray.  You have a Friend who is close than a brother (yes, that is a name to a wonderful Gospel hymn!)  Jesus will always stand with you and be available to you.  His eye is upon you and He loves you.  He has promised to hear every prayer and He offers guidance and strength to persevere through the tangles and snarls of this life.

Verses from Psalm 119:
"My eyes fail, looking for Your promise;  I say, 'When will You comfort me?'....'How long must Your servant wait?'.......Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path....I have put my hope in Your Word...Sustain me according to Your promise, and I will live; do not let my hopes be dashed......Deal with Your servant according to Your love and teach me Your decrees....The unfolding of Your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.....Direct my footsteps according to Your word;.....Make Your face shine upon Your servant and teach me...."

You OK? 

However you answer that question today, be assured the Lord Jesus is with you and He desires for you to be OK.  

In His Name and for His sake, I pray this day that you are and will be forever OK.  Amen.

Shining Faces

For my morning devotions I read a prayer written by Pastor Charles R. Flanders of London, Ontario, Canada from:

"God's Minute, A Book of 365 Daily Prayers Sixty Seconds Long for Home Worship"

Portions of the prayer include:

"Our Father, teach us how to speak to Thee.   May Thy Spirit lead us into the light, for we know so little about Thee and are so dull and slow to learn.....Bless our home today and all who are in it.  May we always be gentle and loving, and seek to make all about us happy.  

Help us to have a shining face

and especially when we meet Thy other children who are sad and in trouble.  ...."

A shining face.

Moses had a shining face when he came down from the mountain after having a face to face with God.  In Exodus 34, it tells us that the people were afraid of Moses and his shining face.  Moses then put a veil over his face so he could share with the people the Words of God.  And the people believed.  

Jesus came to this earth and walked as the presence of God.  He was light and He even stated in the Gospel of John "I am the LIght of the World."  The Gospel of John begins: "In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God.  He was with God in the beginning....  In Him was life and that life was the Light of men.  The Light shines in the darkness....."

To me shining faces are faces that look to the Light of God, to those that hear His Word, to those who reflect His love.  When I first read the prayer and read the petition "help us to have a shining face," these two pictures came immediately to my mind:

My granddaughters, Lily and Betty certainly have shining faces!  They radiate love and joy, happiness and life itself!  I believe that these shining faces come about because Lily and Betty know that they are loved and cared for.  They have experienced delight and joy and are safe in that keeping therefore they reflect the light that results in all that love and care.

I, too, desire to reflect God's Light of love and care.  I, too, desire to show forth a shining face, a face that reflects the Light of God.  That is my prayer today.  

Thank You, O Heavenly Father, for Your unfailing love and care.  For Your many blessings, for Your watchful eye over me and my family.  Thank You.  Now, make me a reflection of Your Light, Lord.  Make my face shine forth of Your love and goodness, Your healing and hope, Your forgiveness and transforming power.  Grant me a shining face, all for Your glory,  Amen.

Precious and Priceless, Apple Picking in Vermont

This picture was taken at an apple orchard in Vermont.  I am holding our youngest granddaughter, Lily (age 2...or, "big," in her words) and she is picking apples.

Of all the pictures that were taken on our last visit, I keep going back to this one.  The two heads together - one head with short, woman-made curls and startling white hair; one head with long, natural wavy curls and soft auburn colored hair  

and the two arms - one bigger and stronger wrapped in bright plaid supporting the smaller body and providing a way to reach higher; the other arm smaller and wrapped in soft fabric with stripes that intimately holds close where it is safe so the other arm and can reach out and explore.  

Two bodies - one older; one younger- sharing a task, sharing moment  - a holy, sacred moment in time.  A moment that cannot be recaptured though there will always be apples to pick.  

Precious and priceless are these moments that are shared with loved ones.
Precious and priceless are these moments that make up our memories and make us smile.
Precious and priceless are these moments that create a foundation for love to grow.
Precious and priceless are these moments that sustain us when moments are not so precious.

Today I pray you will have opportunity to partake and make a few precious and priceless moments of your own.  Hands holding hands.  Hearts holding hearts.  

May the Lord bless you and keep you,
May the Lord make His Face to shine upon you and be gracious unto you,
And may the Lord look upon you with His favor and give you His peace,
In the Name of the Father, in the Name of the Jesus, His Son, and in the Name of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.