Great-grandfather? "We had none...the line failing before it had reached so far back."

In a Mark Twain novel*, the protagonist is trying to gather data for forming armies, one of them specifically for the nobility (to keep them out of other people's hair.)  He asks each candidate about his forbears. "Father?"  Then "grandfather?"...then "great-grandfather?"  When he gets to that question with one guy, the fellow explains, "We had none...the line failing before it had reached so far back".  (The interviewer gave up!)
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It's interesting how genealogies can start at either end, depending on the situation and culture.  In the Bible, the "begats" always start with the founder of the clan or tribe and work downward.  The sequence of ancestors gets named and placed as they appeared on the vertical  family timeline.  It finally ends up with the person whose line is being reported.

Nowadays, when we want to explore our lineage, we begin with ourselves and work backwards.  It's close to impossible for us to do it the historic way, since there are few records that go back so far, and there are no bards around to recite the lengthy generation-after-generation records they had memorized.
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It's fun to know what kinds of ancestors we had and where they came from,  but there's something that's much  more important to me.  That is my spiritual lineage.  As long as I know who my Father is, I have an identity.  I am part of His history, I am a member of His family.

"But You are our Father...You, O Lord, are our Father..."  (Isaiah 62:16)

"Have we not all one Father?  Did not God create us all?"  (Malachi 2:10)

""For in Him we live and move and have our being.  As some of your own poets have said, 'We are his offspring'.  There is one body and one Spirit...one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all."  (Ephesians 4:4-6)
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Tomorrow I will travel with my husband to have a much-looked-forward-to visit with our descendants.  Our two children, their spouses and their offspring are precious to us.  They "belong".  We all "belong" to our family.  But even better, we all belong to God's family...we all call Him Father!
                                            
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*A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court

Things that leap...and some that should (but don't always!)

Melbourne, Australia, early 1974.  Yeah, wallabies and their cousin kangaroos just amble down the streets of the city...friendly guys...HA!  Actually, we took this picture at the Melbourne Zoo, where they DO walk around, but within the confines of the zoo - which still gives them a lot of room to ramble and mingle with the visitors. 

Wallabies and kangaroos leap and hop because that's how they get to wherever they're going.  They can't do it any other way...and there's no reason to try, since their mode of locomotion works to perfection.  They were made to leap...
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and so we were!  Not in the same way, of course, or for the same reason! We can do it literally, as the lame beggar who was healed in front of the temple. "He jumped to his feet, and began to walk.  Then he went with them into the temple courts, walking and jumping, and praising God."  (Acts 3:8)

But we can also do it with our soul and spirit, our inner being. Don't you sometimes feel that your heart "leaps" inside you when you hear some good news or are given a wonderful surprise?  We were made that way!  We were made to express our happiness and joy. Even when things don't seem to be going so well, there is always the Good News of what we are and can and will be through our Savior Jesus.  It can counterbalance the difficulties and draw us to the truths that make our spirits soar.  Jesus said:

"Blessed are you who are poor,  for yours is the Kingdom of God.  Blessed are you who hunger now, for you will be satisfied.  Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh.  Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil, because of the Son of Man.  Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven."  (Luke 6:20-23)

I imagine that when Jesus comes back, we will be so thrilled, so bursting with wonder and supreme happiness when we see Him, that we won't be able to keep ourselves from leaping for joy! And we may find that even that just isn't enough to fully express our gratitude and amazement!

"Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped.  Then will the lame leap like deer, and the tongue of the dumb shout for joy."  (Isaiah 35:5-6)  It is going to be unfathomably awesome!
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             Let your heart leap for joy...let your soul turn somersaults in grateful praise!
                                              Let your spirit dance!

              "Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again: rejoice!"  (Philippians 4:4)

"I WAS BORN MODEST; NOT ALL OVER, BUT IN SPOTS."

In his humorous, satirical novel A Connecticut Yankee in Sir Arthur's Court,  Mark Twain puts these words into the mouth of his protagonist.  I think that they might be true of everybody, to a greater or lesser extent!

This photo of me (in late 1972) was taken in the house of my Aunt Marcia, Uncle Bob and six Gould cousins, down in their basement.  You might think that I was a great pool player, but...alas, the photograph gives a false impression!  You only see  what the picture seems to convey...and I could take advantage of that and let people think I was a pro...until they actually played with me, of course!  Then my lack of expertise would become obvious!  So why even try to make people think I'm something I'm not?  Yet, we all do it...maybe not "all over", but "in spots"!
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The reason is that we're all human beings.  We may not actively strive for compliments, but when they come, we certainly don't complain, do we?  Human beings like to be admired and considered "good" at what we do or are.  But at times, our lives (like this picture) give a wrong impression. As someone said, "Some people think they've hit a triple when actually they were born on third base."  It's not at all bad to be valued and admired, but we need to keep modesty as a measuring stick, and not overdo things - either way. Romans 12:3 says, "Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment with the measure of faith God has given you."  Be realistic.  Thank God for the talents and gifts He has given you, for the things He's helped you accomplish...but remember from Whom they came and Who's behind them!

A story was told of King George III of England, who prohibited the clergy to compliment him in their preaching when he was present.  When one of them went against this injunction, the king reprimanded him, saying that he came to the chapel to hear the praise of God, and not his own.

The psalmist said something similar:  "Not to us, O Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness."  (Psalm 115:1)

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It is amazing to see the variety of talents and abilities, innate and acquired, that God has distributed among all his creatures.  But He didn't give them to us for the purpose of gaining us fame and renown! We should use them for  encouraging others, giving enjoyment, entertaining, helping those who need our particular gift...etc.  And, as we do so, let's try to "think of ourselves with sober judgment", knowing that when we put ourselves and our abilities in God's hands, He has the expertise needed to bring the most good from them, and wring the most mileage out of them!

I don't always find this easy.  Being restricted in my activities, due to my illnesses, at times it seems like I'm stuck in a corner, having to watch others go by (without me) with all their impressive doings!  I should, instead, thank God for those "impressive doings" when He uses them for His glory...and for the chance to watch Him as He weaves His tapestry of blessings.  (But I'm working on it!)

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Lord, thank You for channeling your creativity through us all...yes, ALL,  for You have given every single one of us something of value to contribute!  May we use it wisely, modestly and gratefully.





   

THE Most Prodigious Punctuator!

At 11, my sister could have been called a "prodigious punctuator"...although her specialty was commas.  She sprinkled all her writings quite lavishly with commas.  It's the first thing I think of when I see this old picture.

I had just graduated from high school, having recently turned 17, and worked for a year home-schooling (in Santo Domingo).  My sister Carol was my 6th-grade student.  (I had a 7th, and two 1sts.)  As her teacher, I was the one who corrected her homework, and was treated to the sight of all her beloved commas.  (Funny...I can't remember anything about the REST of her punctuation!)
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Can we draw an analogy from "punctuation" in our lives?  Yes...at least I think so!  There are two main applications to think about. (The first can seem a challenging responsibility, the second is an exciting and mind-boggling reality!)

 1) As believers, we are called to be careful how our words come across. Speaking like a metronome, with no pauses or expression, isn't very interesting, is it? The same is true of how our words and lives speak to others.  Are they interesting, well-timed, and "punctuated" positively?

"Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone."  (Colossians 4:6)

"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen."  (Ephesians 4:29)

Jesus used different things to "punctuate" His messages and ministry; for example, parables and miracles. And the disciples,  following in His footsteps and obeying His commission, "... went out and preached everywhere, and the Lord worked with them, and confirmed His Word by the signs that accompanied it."  (Mark 16:30)   We "punctuate" with our actions, too, not only our words and attitudes. 
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2)  This second facet is the most awesome and glorious.  God is THE "prodigious punctuator" extraordinaire!  He writes on our hearts: "I will put my laws in their minds and write them on their hearts.  I will be their God, and they will be my people."  (quoted in Hebrews 8:10)

Even more incredibly,  it is He who writes your story and mine! When God writes your story, planning all its details, He knows exactly where to put each "comma", each "period", each "semi-colon", each "colon", each "exclamation mark"...even each "question mark"!  He knows when you need a brief pause, when you need to stop, where you need to make a slightly longer pause before continuing, where you need to take stock of  things, where you need to be amazed by Him in a special way in order to be encouraged, when you need to wonder about things...

God writes our stories from His unique, omniscient viewpoint, using His unsurpassed wisdom, crafting a story that is lavish in its use of "divine punctuation" and unparalleled creativity!  The stories reflect His immense love.  No one could ever hope to write his/her story better than the way He writes it.  (We act as though we could sometimes, don't we?  Or we try to "correct" His punctuation, arguing about where He has placed the starts and stops and pauses!)
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"For you created my inmost being; You knit me together in my mother's womb.  I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made..."  (Psalm 139:13-14)

"All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be."  (Psalm 139:16)
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Let's be thankful that our Creator is such an unimaginably clever Wordsmith, writing our stories with such skill, and punctuating them with such love, precision and assurance!            

            

Father...where are Your sons?

The needy people described in this song are all around us.

Do we see them?...and through whose eyes?

        THESE ARE THE ONES

Why do some people cry
                 way down deep inside,
in their lonely hearts,
                  in their restless minds?
In confusion they look to the "lords of the earth",
and "the blind lead the blind".

How they grope for a hand that will reach out in love,
just hoping there might be Someone above;
but their inner ear isn't tuned to hear
the gentle white Dove.

                              Father, these are the ones
                              You are longing to pick up and place in the palm of Your hand.                                                  Father, where are Your sons
                              that You're longing to send to the blind and the deaf of this land?
                              They need to know to Whom they should look,
                               to Whom they can go.

Why do some people laugh at whatever they hear,
pretend they've no cares, make believe they've no tears,
while behind every mask there are eyes filled with pain,
there are eyes filled with fear?

Let Your look melt their hearts in the fire of Your love.
Let them long to be made again through Your firm healing touch.
Your love sets them free, so at last they can see
 Whom they've needed so much.

                                      
                          Father, these are the ones
                          You will call to make music ring out 'round the throne of Your Son.
                          Father, through all Your children
                           You add every day souls that join in the heavenly Song.
                           With notes strong and true, each heart learns the tune,
                            each life blends with You.                                               
                                                                                                                   -Becky Rhon
                           
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                                   "...a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb."              (Rev. 7:9)        

           

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What a glorious future we have in our Lord!!                  

"Train up a husband-to-be in the way he should go..."

...and when he is married he will not depart from it."  That's in Proverbs somewhere, isn't it?

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I haven't found a picture of our engagement "ceremony", but this picture was taken the evening of that day.  (As close as I could get!)  Following one of the local customs (now probably obsolete, after so many years!), our "official" engagement was marked by a "ring exchange" ( cambio de aros).  We decided to have ours in church, so that Sunday, during the service, we went forward and, after a few words of explanation by the leader (including the fact that this was NOT a wedding!), we put our wedding rings on each other's hands...but on the right hand, instead of the left.  This was a sign of betrothal.  Then there was a dedication prayer.  Short and sweet!

That evening, as we were washing up the dishes in the kitchen after enjoying a family supper, some wise-guy took this picture of us!  I hope you notice the apron on Germán!  And the skirt lengths of those days...the apron I wore was longer than my skirt!
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Over the years, especially as my health grew worse and worse, my husband has become ever more and more of a helper.  These days, you won't see him in an apron, but you'll find him most every day doing the dishes for me (sometimes singing praise choruses while he's at it!)...beside numerous other things, big and small, that make daily living easier for me...and us.  I don't know what I'd do without him!

The apostle Paul said, "And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifice God is pleased."  (Hebrews 13:16).  Isn't it true that sometimes (often!) helping another is a sacrifice...but we do it anyway?  Germán might not necessarily enjoy washing dishes, but he does that and so much more.  He knows I need his support...and gives it to me with his love.  Husbands, did you know that the way you love and support your wives can give them glimpses into what our heavenly Bridegroom is like?

" 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.' This is a profound mystery - but I am talking about Christ and the church." (Ephesians 5:31,32)

I am Germán's bride...the Church is in preparation for becoming Christ's bride.  From reading what God desires of his people, I should also learn to relate to my husband.
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One day that "mystery" will be fully understood. "Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him glory, for the wedding of the Lamb has come and his bride has made herself ready."  (Revelation 19:7)

I CAN'T WAIT!

The cheese that wasn't a cheese

A man out walking noticed a nice round cheese in a window display, and entered the store.  Human beings are curious, and he was no exception, so he stuck out his walking cane and gently tapped the cheese.  If anything, it should have made a dull "thump", but instead it gave a little ring.

Investigating further, the man saw that the "cheese" was actually a fake.  The store owner, so as not to have to put out a fresh cheese in the window every day, made a ceramic model, then painted it over to look like the real thing.  It looked delicious...but not even a mouse would have wanted to actually eat it.
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Several things would help one to realize that the cheese was a fake:  appearance? smell? sound?  taste?  It looked all right, but it rang instead of thumping, it didn't smell like cheese and one couldn't really taste it, as it wasn't edible!

Sometimes people's faith is like that...even those who claim to be believers.  The outward appearance may not give it away...but that's no proof.  "The Lord does not look at the things man looks at.  Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.""  (I Samuel 16:7)

Our faith in God should "smell right".  "For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.  To the one {the perishing} we are the smell of death , to the other {the believers}, the fragrance of life."  (II Corinthians 2:15)

As believers we can rely on the "sound" of our faith.  "Whether you turn to the right or to the left,  your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, 'This is the way; walk in it.  (Isaiah 30:21)  Do we share the Source of that "sound" with others? 

And what about "taste"?  "How sweet are your promises to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" (Psalm 119:103)  Do we share the "taste" with others?
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The fake and the real.  It comes down to what each one produces, it's "fruit"  The fake cheese was a false promise and produced disillusionment, disappointment and unsatisfied hunger.

And that of our faith?  "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." (Galatians 5:22)

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May God help us to be real, not fake...producing fruit that attracts others to Him and doesn't disappoint, but offers satisfaction for the soul. As Ephesians 5 :15 says, "Be very careful, then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise."