I was recently reunited with a friend from the past on Facebook. This morning I sat quietly thinking and talking to the Lord. I recalled memories from the past. Judy and I were young married women, each with two little daughters. We were both RN’s and connected by our Christian faith. We were introduced to each other by Mike, the owner of the laundry mat where we unfortunately had to spend a lot of time. Mike became our laundry mat angel and Judy and I became friends.
Prior to going to Mike’s laundry mat, Mike was a stranger. He took us under wing and was unconditionally kind and generous to both of us. It would be hard to explain the many ways in which he helped to make our lives and laundry chores easier. The weekly, or more often, trudge to wash clothes was not a task which I looked forward to but Mike’s welcoming face and helping hand made it doable. Young mothers of today can’t even imagine the fact that our laundry items included our baby’s cloth diapers.
Both Judy and I had been going to the laundry mat prior to the birth of our first babies, not know each other at the time. When Mike found out that we both were pregnant he wanted to help us by giving us some baby equipment. He ordered a playpen, a high chair, cloth diapers, and a diaper pail from Sears and had them delivered to our homes. It is hard for one to accept gifts and not want to give something back. It is hard not to question a motive behind kindness. For most of us it is easier to give than it is to accept a gift graciously and gratefully.
Mike’s generosity was with out motive! We did not know a whole lot about him. His sister and her family lived near, he spoke of a favorite niece, he was more than comfortable financially, and we knew that he had some medical problems. His life was his laundry mat business and he was on site most of the time. He was helpful to everyone but he was truly our angel. When our first daughters, Elisa and Sharon, were born he presented them each with a gold charm bracelet and he did the same two years later when Erica and Holly were born.
I can remember times when one of my babies was sick and I couldn’t get to the laundry mat. Mike would come to the house, pick up laundry, wash it, dry it, and return it to me. He never, ever, wanted anything in return. Sometimes, when we were waiting for our clothes to wash and dry, he would buy us pizza slices from the Italian restaurant next to the laundry mat. The laundry mat and restaurant were located in a little strip mall on Hempstead Avenue. It was about five minutes from Maple Street in West Hempstead where Richie and I lived in a little apartment over Aunt Carrie and Uncle Albert’s garage. When Richie and I on occasion tried to give Mike a thank you gift it seemed to make him very uncomfortable. He was giving to give, not to receive.
As I sat remembering Judy, Mike, and this time in my life, I couldn’t help to think about God’s unconditional love for each of us. It is hard for the human mind to comprehend the magnitude of that love. If it is difficult for me to accept unconditional kindness from someone who I can see, how well do I accept it from God who I cannot see? How do I show my love to others in the way I am instructed to? In Matthew 22:37-40 we are commanded to love God with all of our heart, soul, and mind and our neighbors as ourselves. In Luke 10 a religious leader asked Jesus, “Who is my neighbor?” Jesus answered by telling the familiar story of the Good Samaritan. The disciples answered the above question by agreeing that the good neighbor was the one traveler who showed mercy to the Jewish man who had been beaten and robbed. He showed love without wanting anything in return. In 1Timothy 1:5 Paul tells us that we, as Christians, are to be “filled with love that comes from a pure heart, a clear conscience, and a sincere faith”. God loves His children unconditionally. I question my ability to always love unconditionally and without motive. I want to feel God’s presence, study His word and His ways, and increase in my faith so I can strive to see “my neighbor” through the eyes of Christ.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Sunday, January 22, 2012
Risk and Reward
Does God have an assignment for me in 2012? How does He plan to use me? I do not want to be in the same spiritual place next year or in subsequent years than I am now. We all have goals, visions, and dreams. God has a more excellent way than I can even envision today. I have to be willing to step out and receive my dreams. When I pray for my future, and my plans line up with God’s will for my life, I will experience His blessings and provision. How do I know this you might ask? Am I being presumptive? It is because I have made God the Lord of my life and I believe the promises which He gives all of us in His word. He is who He says He is, and He does what He says He will do! I received His gift of faith so many years ago. I have matured in my faith. When one chooses not to believe, or not to mature in that little faith which has been given, one chooses to stay in the same place year after year. Not maturing in your faith limits every aspect of your life. God’s resources and power are released in my life as I stand out in faith. I remember what He has done before; in my own life, and in the lives of others.
Abraham had great faith. He believed God’s promises to him. He was told that his descendants would be more numerous than the stars in the sky and that he would be the father of many nations. In Genesis 22, Abraham’s obedience and faith were tested. In obedience to God he brought Isaac, his promised descendent, to the sacrificial alter. He said to those traveling with them, “Stay here…..The boy and I will travel a little farther. We will worship there, and then we will return”. He didn’t know how, but he had faith to believe that the boy would return with him. Abraham, in obedience, put Isaac on the altar but at the last minute was stopped by the Angel of the Lord who said, “Do not hurt the boy in any way, for now I know that you truly fear God. You have not withheld even your beloved son from me”. Would my faith have been that great? No, I don’t think so!
We do know that God gave His only beloved son for us on the Cross of Calvary (John3:16). His plan of redemption is seen throughout the scriptures, Genesis through Revelation. I think back and remember my time of trial and grief when Elisa and Carrie died over 30 years ago. I did not choose to give them back to God. On this side of eternity, I will never understand God’s plan. The one thing which I do know is that I would not have searched for God and for my life’s meaning in the earnest way which I have if He had not allowed me to go through this pain. Only those who have experienced similar times of suffering will understand what I am trying to say. Throughout the past 30 years, my faith has grown from baby faith to mature faith because I have continuously sought a deeper relationship with the Lord. As I seek, I find. As I take spiritual risks, I grow in my faith. As I study His word and am obedient, I experience the rewards of His blessings and favor in my life. I know where two of my treasures are; Elisa and Carrie are with the Lord in Heaven. When my physical journey on earth is over I will be with my Lord and my girls continuing my spiritual journey throughout eternity. I have come to this conclusion because of scripture promises which I have been given. 1John 2:1 7 says, “And this world is fading away, along with everything it craves. But if you do the will of God, you will live forever”. John, in 1John 4:13,14 writes, “I write this to you who believe in the Son of God, so that you MAY KNOW you have eternal life. And we can be confident that He will listen to us whenever we ask Him for anything in line with His will”.
Each of us is at a different stage in our spiritual journey; in our faith walk. I want to hear God when He tells me to move; not to stay in the same place. I get very comfortable where I am and hesitate to step out of my comfort zone. Growth takes faith and trust. Increased faith and trust come when I Read the Word of God, Absorb the Word of God, Trust the Word of God, and Obey the Word of God. I see evidence of God’s power, provision, and presence when I keep renewing my mind in Christ and in His Word.
We have to be willing to step out of the boat like Peter did when Christ said, “Come”. He believed that he could walk on the water and was willing to take the risk. He could walk on the water just as long as he believed he could (Matthew 14:22-34). I don’t want to miss what God has planned for me because I am afraid to take the risk. The greater the risk, the greater is the reward. The greater the faith, the greater is the victory. God will prove Himself. When we remember God’s past victories in our life and are faced again with a challenge requiring risk we will approach it with even greater faith. Little faith will keep growing into mountain moving faith.
Worry and fear are what prevent us from accomplishing that which God has planned for us. When we step out in faith we worry about what others will say. We need to know that we are to be concerned about God’s approval, not the approval of our peers, family, and friends. That can be very hard. The biggest risk we can take is not doing God’s word; not listening to His will, not trusting His requests, and not obeying His commands. We must not fear obstacles as we step out in faith. We must focus on our Heavenly Father and our vision, not the obstacles. We must live in the victory which we have in Christ by constantly being in prayer and in touch with God through The Holy Spirit who is within us. We are to pray without ceasing; to be in constant communion with God. Big prayer (Faith Filled Prayer) to a Big God (Our Mighty Father) results in Big victories (Powerful Answers and Miraculous Results).
I pray that when God opens up a door for me, I will have enough faith to walk through into the experience or adventure which He has planned. By worrying, or by being too afraid to step out of my comfort zone, I rob myself of the blessing and favor I will find on the other side of the door. Lord, empower me to take spiritual risks for you so that I will continue to grow my faith and reap your rewards.
Abraham had great faith. He believed God’s promises to him. He was told that his descendants would be more numerous than the stars in the sky and that he would be the father of many nations. In Genesis 22, Abraham’s obedience and faith were tested. In obedience to God he brought Isaac, his promised descendent, to the sacrificial alter. He said to those traveling with them, “Stay here…..The boy and I will travel a little farther. We will worship there, and then we will return”. He didn’t know how, but he had faith to believe that the boy would return with him. Abraham, in obedience, put Isaac on the altar but at the last minute was stopped by the Angel of the Lord who said, “Do not hurt the boy in any way, for now I know that you truly fear God. You have not withheld even your beloved son from me”. Would my faith have been that great? No, I don’t think so!
We do know that God gave His only beloved son for us on the Cross of Calvary (John3:16). His plan of redemption is seen throughout the scriptures, Genesis through Revelation. I think back and remember my time of trial and grief when Elisa and Carrie died over 30 years ago. I did not choose to give them back to God. On this side of eternity, I will never understand God’s plan. The one thing which I do know is that I would not have searched for God and for my life’s meaning in the earnest way which I have if He had not allowed me to go through this pain. Only those who have experienced similar times of suffering will understand what I am trying to say. Throughout the past 30 years, my faith has grown from baby faith to mature faith because I have continuously sought a deeper relationship with the Lord. As I seek, I find. As I take spiritual risks, I grow in my faith. As I study His word and am obedient, I experience the rewards of His blessings and favor in my life. I know where two of my treasures are; Elisa and Carrie are with the Lord in Heaven. When my physical journey on earth is over I will be with my Lord and my girls continuing my spiritual journey throughout eternity. I have come to this conclusion because of scripture promises which I have been given. 1John 2:1 7 says, “And this world is fading away, along with everything it craves. But if you do the will of God, you will live forever”. John, in 1John 4:13,14 writes, “I write this to you who believe in the Son of God, so that you MAY KNOW you have eternal life. And we can be confident that He will listen to us whenever we ask Him for anything in line with His will”.
Each of us is at a different stage in our spiritual journey; in our faith walk. I want to hear God when He tells me to move; not to stay in the same place. I get very comfortable where I am and hesitate to step out of my comfort zone. Growth takes faith and trust. Increased faith and trust come when I Read the Word of God, Absorb the Word of God, Trust the Word of God, and Obey the Word of God. I see evidence of God’s power, provision, and presence when I keep renewing my mind in Christ and in His Word.
We have to be willing to step out of the boat like Peter did when Christ said, “Come”. He believed that he could walk on the water and was willing to take the risk. He could walk on the water just as long as he believed he could (Matthew 14:22-34). I don’t want to miss what God has planned for me because I am afraid to take the risk. The greater the risk, the greater is the reward. The greater the faith, the greater is the victory. God will prove Himself. When we remember God’s past victories in our life and are faced again with a challenge requiring risk we will approach it with even greater faith. Little faith will keep growing into mountain moving faith.
Worry and fear are what prevent us from accomplishing that which God has planned for us. When we step out in faith we worry about what others will say. We need to know that we are to be concerned about God’s approval, not the approval of our peers, family, and friends. That can be very hard. The biggest risk we can take is not doing God’s word; not listening to His will, not trusting His requests, and not obeying His commands. We must not fear obstacles as we step out in faith. We must focus on our Heavenly Father and our vision, not the obstacles. We must live in the victory which we have in Christ by constantly being in prayer and in touch with God through The Holy Spirit who is within us. We are to pray without ceasing; to be in constant communion with God. Big prayer (Faith Filled Prayer) to a Big God (Our Mighty Father) results in Big victories (Powerful Answers and Miraculous Results).
I pray that when God opens up a door for me, I will have enough faith to walk through into the experience or adventure which He has planned. By worrying, or by being too afraid to step out of my comfort zone, I rob myself of the blessing and favor I will find on the other side of the door. Lord, empower me to take spiritual risks for you so that I will continue to grow my faith and reap your rewards.
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Christmas Memories
Recently, on Christian radio, I paid attention to the words being sung in a song. The words said, “A heartache is but a stepping stone on our journey, always reaching upward”. It would be nice if we could choose our own path and miss the heartache stones while only walking on the happy stones. The words went on to say, “The things of earth dim and loose their value. They are only borrowed for but awhile. This weary world with its toil and trouble are temporary. We carry on with joy, looking to eternity”.
As the years go by, the Christmas Holidays become a time of cumulative memories. The older we become, the more heartache memories are added to our thoughts of times past. It is wonderful to celebrate Christmas when there are children in the family. In general, but not always, youth is a time of joy. As a grandmother, I can see the excitement of Christmas through the eyes of my grandsons. Hopefully they will have only good memories for a long while.
I had a wonderful Christmas with my family but melancholy memories flooded my present experiences many times during the past few weeks. As I stood near my daughters in Church, I could see myself standing at my Mom’s side as she and I sang Christmas hymns together during Christmas services years ago; wonderful memories, yet making me sad as I recall them now. I am so grateful to be able to pass on my parent’s faith to the next two generations which stood with me at the 2011 Christmas Eve service. I love them all. I don’t think they realized how very much it meant to me to have my family together worshiping our Lord (or maybe they did!). For me, it was the highlight of a meaningful, happy weekend. For two thousand years the story of the birth of the promised Christ Child has been passed down from one generation to the next. It was Christmas again and I was passing on my faith to the next generations in my family. It is a permanent, forever message that I will celebrate every day in my life, not just on December 25th.
I have one of my mother’s hand-written, black and white marbled recipe books. I needed to look up her recipe for Jule Grot, a Norwegian Christmas rice pudding, which has been a traditional Christmas Eve dish in our family. I called my sister, Marlene, to get her expert advice because she took over making it when Mom was no longer with us. I had to learn how to make it because geographically, she is still on Long Island and I am now in Pennsylvania. Mom was in the habit of writing a note, as one would in a diary entry, about the success of the recipe in a given year. As Marlene and I reviewed the ingredients over the phone, I noted Mom’s entry for December 24, 1990. It said, “Marlene and Ken are going to pick me up and we are going to St. Luke Lutheran Church to hear Christa sing with the youth group. From Church we are all going to Ken and Marlene’s for Christmas Eve”. Mom’s entry brought tears to both of our eyes and I shared with Marlene about how I had been having a hard time this Christmas encountering memories. She admitted to having similar emotional times herself and related dealing with tears when she took out Ma’s round yellow pyrex bowl as she readied to make Krumkake (a Norwegian rolled cookie traditionally served at Christmas). She remembered Ma using this bowl to make these cookies throughout many happy Christmas’ past. We miss all those whom we have loved and are no longer with us to make and share memories. We look back and are grateful for their lives. We move forward each year with new family and friends, making new memories along the stepping stones of life.
I can remember similar emotions, years ago, when I was flooded with tears, even sobs.
Angela, Richie’s Mom, had taught me how to make Swedish Coffee Bread, a Christmas tradition in his family. For many years we made it together prior to the holidays. Angela died in April 1988. I had grieved her death but I don’t remember crying. In December, I got ready for the holidays gathering the ingredients for my coffee bread. As I prepared the cardamom, I pictured my mother-in-law sitting at my kitchen table counting out cardamom for each batch of bread. As the years passed and she could no longer do much of the total recipe I made sure that she was always with me, continuing to make it a joint endeavor. I looked over at the table where she would sit and I began grieving her death in a way I hadn’t done before. I will always remember that moment and the sobs which I experienced. Life is made up of moments and memories; times of heartaches and times of happiness. Each is a piece of our individual journey.
This year my family and I made new memories. We had a very wonderful Christmas Eve with my sister Jane and her family; in Pennsylvania. Jane, Ron, Richie, I, and our children and our grandchildren built good memories and continued traditions which we hope will be passed on through the years. I made Glog, Gravalax with dill mustard, Swedish Coffee Bread, and Jule Grot. We place a shaved almond in the rice pudding and the one who finds it in his or her dish gets the prize. The prize is usually a marzipan pig but this year it was a small box of Marzipan fruit. Middle Trevor, one of Jane and Ron’s six grand children was the winner. Our Trevor calls him middle Trevor because he is little Trevor and his dad is big Trevor. Laura and John’s son is middle Trevor. The young cousins had so much fun being together on Christmas Eve. They sang Christmas Carols with Uncle Bruce on his guitar. Jane read “The Night before Christmas” to the children while they gathered at her feet. In the middle of the group of children sat Jane’s new Christmas angel, Ben, a loving, gentle 15 month old St Bernard. It was a picture; it was a memory. Our Christa and Kris will be adding a new little cousin to the group before next Christmas. God is Good…..All The Time!!!
I will continue to pass on our Christmas traditions but most of all I will continue to pass on the faith that was passed on to me, and to each of us, from generation to generation. I pray daily for Richie, Marlene, Jane, Ken, Ron, Erica, Trevor, Christa, Kris, Trevor, Hunter, Christa’s Baby-to-be, my nieces and nephews and grand nieces and grand nephews. I will list them all by name: Doug, Mary, Kendel, Matt, Sean, Riley, Quintin, Dylan, Ryan, Amy, Bruce, Laura, John, Joyel, Sean, Caitlin, Allison, Trevor, Courtney, Mckenna, and Khloe. We miss all who have gone on from this world ahead of us and are grateful for their lives, their love, their memory, and all they passed on to us: our parents, our Elisa and Carrie, Heidi and others whom we loved and who touched our lives. We become a little part of everyone who crosses or walks on the path with us for any length of time. May my life reflect the life of my Savior as I continue to walk my journey and as I continue to love the family and friends placed in my life.
As the years go by, the Christmas Holidays become a time of cumulative memories. The older we become, the more heartache memories are added to our thoughts of times past. It is wonderful to celebrate Christmas when there are children in the family. In general, but not always, youth is a time of joy. As a grandmother, I can see the excitement of Christmas through the eyes of my grandsons. Hopefully they will have only good memories for a long while.
I had a wonderful Christmas with my family but melancholy memories flooded my present experiences many times during the past few weeks. As I stood near my daughters in Church, I could see myself standing at my Mom’s side as she and I sang Christmas hymns together during Christmas services years ago; wonderful memories, yet making me sad as I recall them now. I am so grateful to be able to pass on my parent’s faith to the next two generations which stood with me at the 2011 Christmas Eve service. I love them all. I don’t think they realized how very much it meant to me to have my family together worshiping our Lord (or maybe they did!). For me, it was the highlight of a meaningful, happy weekend. For two thousand years the story of the birth of the promised Christ Child has been passed down from one generation to the next. It was Christmas again and I was passing on my faith to the next generations in my family. It is a permanent, forever message that I will celebrate every day in my life, not just on December 25th.
I have one of my mother’s hand-written, black and white marbled recipe books. I needed to look up her recipe for Jule Grot, a Norwegian Christmas rice pudding, which has been a traditional Christmas Eve dish in our family. I called my sister, Marlene, to get her expert advice because she took over making it when Mom was no longer with us. I had to learn how to make it because geographically, she is still on Long Island and I am now in Pennsylvania. Mom was in the habit of writing a note, as one would in a diary entry, about the success of the recipe in a given year. As Marlene and I reviewed the ingredients over the phone, I noted Mom’s entry for December 24, 1990. It said, “Marlene and Ken are going to pick me up and we are going to St. Luke Lutheran Church to hear Christa sing with the youth group. From Church we are all going to Ken and Marlene’s for Christmas Eve”. Mom’s entry brought tears to both of our eyes and I shared with Marlene about how I had been having a hard time this Christmas encountering memories. She admitted to having similar emotional times herself and related dealing with tears when she took out Ma’s round yellow pyrex bowl as she readied to make Krumkake (a Norwegian rolled cookie traditionally served at Christmas). She remembered Ma using this bowl to make these cookies throughout many happy Christmas’ past. We miss all those whom we have loved and are no longer with us to make and share memories. We look back and are grateful for their lives. We move forward each year with new family and friends, making new memories along the stepping stones of life.
I can remember similar emotions, years ago, when I was flooded with tears, even sobs.
Angela, Richie’s Mom, had taught me how to make Swedish Coffee Bread, a Christmas tradition in his family. For many years we made it together prior to the holidays. Angela died in April 1988. I had grieved her death but I don’t remember crying. In December, I got ready for the holidays gathering the ingredients for my coffee bread. As I prepared the cardamom, I pictured my mother-in-law sitting at my kitchen table counting out cardamom for each batch of bread. As the years passed and she could no longer do much of the total recipe I made sure that she was always with me, continuing to make it a joint endeavor. I looked over at the table where she would sit and I began grieving her death in a way I hadn’t done before. I will always remember that moment and the sobs which I experienced. Life is made up of moments and memories; times of heartaches and times of happiness. Each is a piece of our individual journey.
This year my family and I made new memories. We had a very wonderful Christmas Eve with my sister Jane and her family; in Pennsylvania. Jane, Ron, Richie, I, and our children and our grandchildren built good memories and continued traditions which we hope will be passed on through the years. I made Glog, Gravalax with dill mustard, Swedish Coffee Bread, and Jule Grot. We place a shaved almond in the rice pudding and the one who finds it in his or her dish gets the prize. The prize is usually a marzipan pig but this year it was a small box of Marzipan fruit. Middle Trevor, one of Jane and Ron’s six grand children was the winner. Our Trevor calls him middle Trevor because he is little Trevor and his dad is big Trevor. Laura and John’s son is middle Trevor. The young cousins had so much fun being together on Christmas Eve. They sang Christmas Carols with Uncle Bruce on his guitar. Jane read “The Night before Christmas” to the children while they gathered at her feet. In the middle of the group of children sat Jane’s new Christmas angel, Ben, a loving, gentle 15 month old St Bernard. It was a picture; it was a memory. Our Christa and Kris will be adding a new little cousin to the group before next Christmas. God is Good…..All The Time!!!
I will continue to pass on our Christmas traditions but most of all I will continue to pass on the faith that was passed on to me, and to each of us, from generation to generation. I pray daily for Richie, Marlene, Jane, Ken, Ron, Erica, Trevor, Christa, Kris, Trevor, Hunter, Christa’s Baby-to-be, my nieces and nephews and grand nieces and grand nephews. I will list them all by name: Doug, Mary, Kendel, Matt, Sean, Riley, Quintin, Dylan, Ryan, Amy, Bruce, Laura, John, Joyel, Sean, Caitlin, Allison, Trevor, Courtney, Mckenna, and Khloe. We miss all who have gone on from this world ahead of us and are grateful for their lives, their love, their memory, and all they passed on to us: our parents, our Elisa and Carrie, Heidi and others whom we loved and who touched our lives. We become a little part of everyone who crosses or walks on the path with us for any length of time. May my life reflect the life of my Savior as I continue to walk my journey and as I continue to love the family and friends placed in my life.
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