An Embarrassment and God's Cathedral

The following post is from October 2023 when I went to a writer's conference in Cook Forest, a few miles from my home. I like this post because of the beautiful picture of "God's Cathedral" at the end of the post. I also like it because I went from embarrassment to glory that day. I hope you enjoy.

Beauty to Come. Walking through the woods.

I was at the writer's conference this past Saturday. The conference center was surrounded by woods in beautiful Cook Forest State Park. 

The conference didn't start out well. My confession: Sometimes I don't understand simple words, meanings and pronunciation. This has been a lifelong disadvantage. I've concluded that my brain just isn't able to remember words and meanings that I don't use often. That can be a disadvantage and an embarrassment.

The first session in the conference we had a simple assignment of a simile exercise. I couldn't remember what simile means. My written response was: "I have absolutely no idea what to write about. My imagination doesn't even come close to doing what I've been asked to do. I can't even remember what a simile is. Sometimes I feel stupid that I can't grasp what other people seem to have no problem doing. I just accept that these are my limitations and there is nothing I can do about it so why get upset. I know what I am able to do, so I will concentrate on doing that and be happy with my accomplishments. I have acceptance within myself and that is a good thing." Thankfully, we did not have to turn in our assignment.

I managed to get through the morning exercises. I was most interested in hearing advice and tips for writing. I tried not to let the exercises bother me.

The afternoon assignment was outside. We were to walk in the woods, choose an object and observe sounds, smells, textures, colors, shade and surfaces, writing about what it brought to mind. It didn't interest me. The only thing I could think about as I stood before the entrance to the woods was God.

"That's what I will write about," I decided. As I walked into the woods my first thought was, "I'm walking into God's cathedral. He is here, all around me." 

First, I heard the chirping of insects. I basked in the sound. The noise was smooth as a stone as they sang their song. I stood in one place, turning a quarter of the way around, looking and listening. Then I would turn another quarter around, until the circle was made. 

The third turn brought bright light shining down upon me. A break in the treetops let the sunshine through completely covering me, enveloping me in God's warmth. He came down from heaven for me. 

"How mighty He is," I thought. Strong as a rock and bold as a lion; gentle as a lamb. "How magnificent is His glory." I was standing in His sanctuary filled unashamedly with gratitude and thankfulness.

As I turned to my original position, color caught my eye, I looked up. Bright yellow and orange at the top of the trees shown through. Brilliant blue in the sky was behind the fall color. That's when I snapped the picture below.

 

The "Black Bear Trail."

I stood there for some time admiring God's creation. Smiling, I turned and walked out of the woods, my heart full and my mind at rest. I had completed the assignment in my own way and met God in the process.

The confusion and embarrassment of the morning evaporated for I had stood in God's cathedral and felt His presence. What a glorious experience! God shared His glory with me and encouraged my heart.

We all have our limitations and feelings of embarrassment and disappointment. Our God doesn't leave us there. If we just look and listen, we can hear His voice and see His splendor. Aren't you thankful for that!

. . . and hopefully see a deer or two!

By His Grace . . .

A Firm Foundation

Following is an article I wrote for my church's newsletter in 2022: 

Our foundation is firm in God. As the hymn "How Firm a Foundation" says: "His Word is our foundation." The first two lines of the hymn reveal this: "How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, is laid for your faith in His excellent Word."

Knowing our foundation is sure in Christ, we can live our life in total confidence of our faith. That helps me to always feel strong and able as I go about my day because I am strong in Christ.

The last verse of this great hymn should be steadfast in our mind and heart: "The soul that on Jesus doth lean for repose, I will not, I will not desert to his foes; That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake, I'll never, no never, no never forsake."

Every time I sing "I'll never, no never, no never forsake" I stop and consider those words. "Never" can be a tricky word. I've said "never" a few times in my life and found myself eating those words in the future. So when I sing that line, I always make a mental note that it is firm in my mind that I mean "never."

Kenneth W. Osbeck said this in his devotion book "Amazing Grace":  "A believer's stability in this life, as well as his confidence for eternity, rests solely on the written promises of God's Word. The direction of the living God for our lives is very definite. It is found in a firm foundation--the written revelation: 'Thus saith the Lord.'"

Another great hymn that shares about our firm foundation is "The Church's One Foundation." The first line says: "The church's one foundation is Jesus Christ her Lord."

"We have everything we need in the foundation God planned for us. It stands firm. Our faith in Jesus as Savior and Lord cannot be swayed.  For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians 3:11

With such a firm foundation to live by we are filled each day with strength, courage, stamina, confidence and truth.

With Gods foundation our life stands firm! Charles Spurgeon wrote: "May He be the foundation of everything, not only of the church, but of our hope, of our character, of every little thing we do!"

2 Timothy 2:19 says: . . . "God’s solid foundation stands firm, sealed with this inscription: 'The Lord knows those who are His. And the Word is Jesus.'"

Stand with me and know in your heart that you will "never forsake" our Savior, Jesus.

 By His Grace . . .

 

This Old House

Last week I watched the Gaither Homecoming video called “Something Beautiful.” Near the end, J. D. Sumner, bass singer, sang, “The Lord Still Lives in This Old House,” as a tribute to God through his life.

As I sat there and watched, I thought: “I could sing that song.” I live in an old house, an old body, snow on my head and rusted hinges. I wonder how many of my friends could sing this song.

Here’s what it says:

“If this earthly tabernacle should be dissolved today,

I'd trade it for a finer one that would not pass away.

But 'til the day arrives when it's time for moving out,

It's such sweet peace to know the Lord still lives in this old house.

“The sweetest fellowship I've known has fortified these walls.

And peace has reigned since He's been won up and down these halls.

With snow upon the rooftop now and these hinges near worn out,

It's such a joy to know the Lord still lives in this old house.

“To Him it's been a dwelling place where He kept my hand in His.

To me a home away from Home is all it really is.

It sure ain't fine or fancy, and all I can boast about

Is after all these years, the Lord still lives in this old house.

“There were times He had the right to up and move away.

And there were times it took His great amazing Grace to stay.

But He never left this old building once, that's why I can sing and shout!

'Cause after all these years the Lord still lives in this old house.”

Yes, my house is getting old. I forget things I’ve been doing for years. I walk slower and hold on to more things so I don’t fall. I'm dropping things all the time. I can’t eat all that chocolate anymore or I’ll suffer the consequences

My house is not fine and fancy, but it’s been my home down here. If it wasn’t for God’s Grace, He may have left me for all the grief I’ve gave Him.

I’m thankful for this old house. I’ve never known fellowship with anyone like I’ve known with Him. The kind of fellowship that sustains you through all the years of heartbreak, pain and grief.

I hope you can sing and shout with hallelujahs because God has never left you. After all these years He still lives in this old house.

By His Grace . . .

Celebrating Lillordag

Early Fall in NW PA . . . fields of goldenrod.

 

Recently I read an article in “The Cozy Issue” by Bella Grace that changed my idea of Wednesdays. The article title was “Celebrating Lillordag.” Now just what is Lillordag?

It’s compared to America’s “hump days” for Wednesdays. Also know as “little Saturday.” It is a Nordic cultural tradition whereby Wednesdays are viewed as opportunities for little weekend celebrations. Instead of trudging through a five-day week, why not break it up with a little indulgence, a big of fun, every Wednesday?

“Hump day” is sometime known as “the toughest day of the week.” Or “just getting through the week.” The “longest day between the weekend.” When you’re working it does seem to be a long day.

I remember as a new Christian my church had services on Wednesdays. There was a meal before the meeting and singing and prayer before the study. Then each person went to a specific class to study other topics.

It was during these Wednesday meetings that I attended the “Sermon on the Mount” class. My pastor taught a nine-month class on the “Sermon on the Mount” for new Christians. It was a highlight of my week. It was a celebration to me!

I attended the class two years because I enjoyed it so much and I learned so much about being a Christian. I even purchased the 30 cassette tapes of the class and listened to them several times through the years. I don’t know what happened to them, but if I had them, I’d listen to them again.

Those are special memories that I will always consider with fondness.

We love a reason to celebrate, even when it’s for the tiniest moments, like making it halfway through the week. Do you have something you do each week to celebrate? Something that inspires you, encourages you or teaches you? It might be time to schedule a little celebrating into your week!

It’s always fun to add something different to your day. A little fun. Some relaxing minutes. A change to make the day happier.

Give it a try! Celebrate Lillordag!

By His Grace . . .

Desires of Your Heart

 

I enjoy reading fiction stories. One of the writers I’ve read is Beverly Lewis. She writes Amish fiction. I hadn’t read any of her books for a number of years and decided to read them again and then pass them on.

One of my favorites is titled “The Fiddler.” I enjoy the story, but this time as I read, something popped out at me that I missed the other times I read it. “The desires of our heart.”

This is from Psalm 37:4 which says: “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.”

When we read about the desires of our heart, we mainly think of those things that we want that make us happy. I’ve thought of seeing a glorious sunrise, a visit with far away friends, a good meal to celebrate a happy occasion. But the words I read in the story caused me to pause. I’m sure I’ve heard a sermon about this before, but I just don’t remember. Here’s what was written:

“She [the Wise Woman] once quoted a Bible verse from a psalm to me: ‘Delight thyself also in the Lord: and He shall give thee the desires of thine heart.’ Then she went on to explain that when our lives line up with God’s will, the desire referred to means Him. The Lord Himself.” Michael paused, eyes brighter now. “It’s not so much that we desire things or circumstances to change, she says, but that we’ve always desired our heavenly Father. He is our first true love.” Beverly Lewis, The Fiddler

I looked the verse up in some commentaries and found this to be true.

ExplainingtheBible.com: “When we read Psalms 37:4, we encounter a powerful promise that comes with a beautiful condition. At its core, this verse encourages us to delight ourselves in the Lord. This means that our joy, satisfaction, and happiness should come from our relationship with God. It is a reminder that our true happiness can be found in following Him and embracing His will for our lives.

“The next phrase, “and He will give you the desires of your heart,” emphasizes the relationship between our hearts and God’s will. God is not only interested in our immediate wants but desires to establish a deep connection with us. As our hearts change, so will our desires, demonstrating a beautiful exchange where we begin to want what God wants for us. We experience fulfillment not just in getting what we long for but in a deeper walk with God, filling our hearts with His joy and purpose.”

Studylight.org, Gill’s Exposition of the Whole Bible: “And He shall give thee the desires of thine heart; such as are according to the will of God, and for the good of His people; such as relate to communion with Him, and to the communication of more grace from Him, and to the enjoyment of eternal glory.”

These words gave me the opportunity to reconsider the desires of my heart and what God is really communicating in this verse. It’s not about me and my wants. It’s about Him and His purpose. When I read this Scripture again, I will be more inclined to stop and consider what God really wants.

And all this from a fiction book. God can reach you anywhere. You just have to be open to His appearance wherever you are.

By His Grace . . . 

 

Cinema of Remembrance

 

Last week I looked through one of my memory boxes. Maybe I did it because we lost our Jo last week, and I just needed to remember some good things that happened through my years. I don't know. But I do know, reminding yourself of good memories can cheer you and help you continue on through life, no matter what you're going through.

I’ve been putting items in my memory boxes for 40 years. Things I want to remember, good things, accomplished things, grateful things, that I have done through my life.

My memory boxes help to encourage me, inspire me and to be thankful for all God has done for me. There will come a time when my memory will fade. The items I have saved will help me remember what I went through and what I did. In some ways it’s like a journal where you record the happenings in your life.

My memory boxes help me to see how I've grown and how events in my life have affected my future work. Perhaps it seems a little egotistical, but I believe we need to be reminded of what we’ve done, reminders of the good things that have shaped us and melded us into the person we are. When I saw the above graphic, I liked it!

I don’t know about you, but I seem to recall mostly negative things from my life, and I try to get rid of them as soon as I realize it! I’m thankful I have something I can go to that is filled with positive things for me to reflect on.

My sister crocheted me a brown blanket for my queen size bed in my late twenties. My favorite color is brown. I loved that blanket. The picture I found in the memory box showed I had that brown blanket when we moved to PA. It was on a chair we purchased after we moved here. I hadn’t seen that blanket in a while, so I went searching for it, pulled it out, and it’s now folded on a bed in the small bedroom.

I found two poems I wrote when I was 28, the first year I was saved. Writing poems were my first attempts at writing. I have an envelope filled with most of those poems. I was in my twenties when I started writing poems.

I found cards and notes that were sent to me during my cancer treatments in 2015. Seeing the notes, I  immediately touched base with a friend that had encouraged me during that time.

A copy of the copywrite for the book I wrote is in there and a post card of the front of my book. My life dream was to have an article published and write a book. My first published article was about Jerry’s truck, and I was paid $100. My self-published book, where I learned all you go through to publish a book, was a dream come true. Guideposts created a Unit called Inspiring Voices. They helped me publish the book. A CD of the class I gave on note writing to encourage is in there. 

Things friends had done for me through the years that touched my heart are in the box. They showed me what friends do for each other, like the poem my friend, Diana, wrote about me.

Wedding and anniversary pictures of Jerry and me through the years. A copy of the certificate that Jerry gave me on our first anniversary when he had a star named after me. Somewhere out there in space, there is Carol Ann Mc Giffin shining bright!

A copy of a staff recognition in the church newsletter when I worked in a church office. It is especially meaningful because I never thought I could work in a church office because I was divorced.

A diploma for the course I took with Writer’s Digest on “Writing to Sell Non-Fiction.” I had an article published while I was taking the course. I was so proud to tell my instructor about it!

The invitation I sent to my friends for my “Celebration of Friends” party for my 55th birthday. That brought back wonderful memories.

My favorite envelope! “Make a mailbox happy, send a card!” My first writing room where I started writing notes to encourage.

Seeing all these things gave me multiple reasons to thank God for what He has done in my life. I truly don’t think I would have achieved most of the things I’m thankful for if I hadn’t found Jesus and became a child of God.

So, I thank Him greatly for working in my life and giving me reasons to be happy and productive for Him.

Those are just a few of the things I was reminded of when I looked through my memory box. If you’ve never started keeping items that mean a lot to you, or writing in a journal, I highly recommend it. There is enough in life to keep us down, and we’ve all experienced those sad and heart-breaking times. Instead, fill your heart with pleasant memories and thank God for giving you something to do. I sure do!

Since Jesus Came Into My Heart

“What a wonderful change in my life has been wrought

Since Jesus came into my heart!

I have light in my soul for which long I have sought,

Since Jesus came into my heart!

Refrain:

“Since Jesus came into my heart,

Since Jesus came into my heart,

Floods of joy o'er my soul like the sea billows roll,

Since Jesus came into my heart.”

By His Grace . . .

Let's Go to Higher Ground

I read a devotion recently in the book, “100 Favorite Hymns” on the hymn, “Higher Ground,” that beckons us to be lifted up to greater heights! It caused me to consider: “Just what is higher ground?”

We’re familiar with the song lyrics: “I’m pressing on the upward way, New heights I’m gaining every day; Still praying as I’m onward bound, Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”

Stacy Edwards, author of the book, wrote: “Higher Ground is a call to every believer to seek a more mature faith and a deeper connection with the Lord . . . to know Him more intimately and to follow Him more closely. It accurately describes the ideal course our faith would take as we mature in Christ.”

In Philippians 3, verses 13-14, Paul wrote: “Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward calling of God in Christ Jesus.”

The upward way is the straight and narrow path that leads to life. We have chosen this way and must do all we can to be fit for our God.

“Higher Ground” is reading our Bible and meditating on the words. It’s listening to music that tells the gospel story. It’s sharing our faith in hope of turning hearts to God. It’s considering our home in heaven when God calls us to be with Him. “Higher Ground.”

The refrain in this hymn reveals what we want--to be lifted up and standing for our faith: “Lord, lift me up and let me stand, By faith, on Heaven’s tableland, A higher plane than I have found; Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”

This is one hymn to joyfully sing with all our heart. We all seek the same thing. More of God. More of God’s power and presence in our lives. More sincere love. To know Him more.

We must simply keep on running the race with our eyes on Jesus, looking upward to Him to help us continue on to "Higher Ground." Our goal is that someday we will scale that utmost height which will take us home to be with the Lord.

Are you pressing on? May that be our aim. Plant your feet on “Higher Ground!”

By His Grace . . .