Category Archives: Special Interest

Posted on

Today is the 4th of July

I love this country

There is something beautiful about this country. It is a varied land with much variety. The west is decidedly different than the east. I spent five weeks in Florida in contrast to the rest of the year in California. Although they have similarities, there are very different features as well. Both states have their pluses even though they are on opposite sides of the country.

The water makes its waves come clear and fast. We love the ocean and its beaches. All my kids and their families got together on the east coast for LaVonne’s birthday this year. It was so incredibly wonderful! We had a spectacular time together. LaVonne’s husband, Shane, rented a raft-type boat. We went out on the bay, viewed the sea life while we navigated around the bay, and just enjoyed the water, weather, and each other. It was a truly delightful day.

My family is blessed

We don’t get to choose our families. So count yourself rich if your family gives more than it gets. My family gave to me more than I could imagine. I’ve come to realize that more with each year I live. We often take away more that we seek to give. I wish I had told my parents more often, that I loved and cherished them. We often fail to see their gifts when they are with us. My siblings, too, are much loved and appreciated. My nieces and nephews and their children, too. Tell them.

Families are the building block that makes a difference in our lives. Some have some problems that cause a myriad of disasters. Yet even then the families we have been given have influenced us. Everyone has the choice of how they will choose to live, grow, and become in this world in which we live. We are given choices. The difficult choices are hard to make and keep but we choose to make them and possibly keep them.

We get to choose how we will live

No, we don’t get to choose what country or family we will live in, at least in the beginning of our lives. But we are given the opportunity to live discreetly wherever we live. You may not live discreetly, and you have that choice, but your life will thrive when you give your thoughts beyond yourself. What do I mean? When we live for others, and give to others, and help others, and think of others, and much, much more. There are many people that our lives touch that benefit from our graces.

Before I end my thoughts, I must say, and I’m going to bring my faith into the conversation, simply because God. He makes the difference. Even when life seems a wreck, it is not entirely true…if you have the faith, you can see it. There are times, possibly, when life is a struggle and you would rather give up. That’s understandable. Life is hard. And maybe we made some poor choices, or we are having a problem with our health or finances. Whatever. But God is enough. He will help you, will keep you, and He is able to do more than we may think or ask. And, of course, the other ones of you, God delights in you. He keeps you, helps you, and carries you along through your journey. Open your heart to Him. I promise you, you won’t regret it.

I will finish with this. Thank God for giving you life. We are fortunate to be living this life, here and now. There is much to be thankful for in this life. Look out your window. A bird flies by. Be thankful for it. Yes, and the food you had to eat. It was good. Be thankful for it. Did you see that ‘someone special’ today? They’re a positive person in your life. I am thankful for you and that is a positively good thing! May God bless you and keep you. May His face shine upon you and give you peace.

Posted on

My Daughter’s Vision Touched Her

LaVonne’s Story (Vision)

Prior to and while my oldest daughter was a student at Biola, a Christian university, she struggled with understanding and picturing what Christ did when He died on the cross for our sins. She wanted to grasp the concept, to feel it live and breathe within her. She loved God already, but she wanted a greater understanding of the crucifixion, and she wanted her understanding of salvation to become more meaningful and real than it was. She had expressed this to God and had wished and prayed for it for quite some time.  Somehow her belief felt like a cerebral, academic knowledge rather than a living, heart knowledge.

She was in class one day when the professor had the students listen to the song, Here I am to worship. They were to think on the words. The words were being sung “And I’ll never know how much it cost, to see my sin upon that cross” when a picture began to form in my daughter’s mind. All other thoughts were removed. It was like a video playing. She was viewing identical cookie cutter figures moving about. They were formed like gingerbread men, all the same size and without gender. Then she noticed one figure that was different than the others. It was bright white, lighter than all other figures. The video in her mind played on. When it was finished, she knew something amazing had happened, and she could finally see it, what Christ had done for her and for all humanity on that cross. Later in the day, she called me and told me about it. I asked her to write it down, and she did.

A few months ago, I came across a notebook of hers while I was sorting through tubs of old items while reorganizing. There was only one entry in the notebook, and it was what she had written on that day about her experience.

She saw it. It changed her.
Christ died to make us whole.

We talked about it and I asked her if I could share her writing with you. She said, “yes.” I asked more about it. She explained how the figures were of all shades of darkness, some with patches of dirt, like smudges, others were caked with filth, and some were mostly white with light shades of darkness. She said her mind felt full with no other thoughts crowding in. It was quite real and vivid.

When it was over, she wondered what had just happened to her and was mystified. But now she understood more clearly what happened at the cross, and she now had heart-knowledge of what took place as Christ died to make us whole. Her question was answered.

I share with you, her words.

Picture in Her Mind:

“Jesus was white, and everyone else looked just like him except they all were covered in dirt. Different people were dirtier, blacker, or whatever (than others). Then they all went and hugged Jesus. Jesus became dirtier than anyone. (He was) caked with filth. Everyone else became pure white as Jesus once was.”

“And I’ll never know how much it cost, to see my sin upon that cross.”

Light of the world, You stepped down into darkness; Open my eyes, let me see
Beauty that made this heart adore You; Hope of a life spent with You

Here I am to worship, here I am to bow down; Here I am to say that You’re my God
Altogether lovely, altogether worthy; Altogether wonderful to me

King of all days, oh so highly exalted; You’re glorious in heaven above, yes You are
Humbly You came to this Earth You created; All for love’s sake became poor

Here I am to worship, here I am to bow down; Here I am to say that You’re my God
Altogether lovely, altogether worthy; Altogether wonderful to me

I’ll never know how much it cost; To see my sin upon that cross

…..

That’s the story my daughter told me so long ago. It still gives me the shivers. God does miraculous things. He chooses when and what. I am glad he shared this small vision of his suffering with my daughter. Its imagery impacted her. Her voice quivered the first time she told me. It was a beautiful yet reflective moment for her.

Here I Am to Worship