Scratch & Dent!

Have you ever taken advantage of your local department store's "Scratch and Dent" sale?? One time, a number of years ago, when I was making my first big move from home, I became the proud recipient of a washer and dryer, both slightly marred in appearance, but with perfectly in-tact inners!! They functioned beautifully, though their appearance was a little less than appealling!

Just yesterday I had teased to my sister, as she accompanied me to my mammogram, that we were going to the anuual "Squish and Dent", a term I had "affectionately" attached to the procedure, and we both shared a laugh together in the car!
(Note for all those approaching their next exam - the saving feature of this unavoidable "delight" is to treat a friend to lunch afterwards!!! It gives your mind a chance to project forward, while other parts of the body are required to do the same!!!)

Anyways, as I considered the whole ordeal afterwards, my mind returned to the "Scratch & Dent" idea, and I had time to reflect further. We live in a "throw-away world" that passes such quick and devaluing judgement on imperfection! Anything - or sadly - anyone, who does not measure up 100% is considered part of this "Scratch & Dent" labeling, reduced in value, and considered less than standard. Let it be known, that apart from a minor scratch on the back of my washer (which no one saw since it faced the wall of my laundry room!) my machines functioned as well as any "perfect" machine would! My clothes went in dirty, and came out dry and clean! No problem. So, the exterior was a little marred ..... no big deal. Why had the store considered it so inferior??

But often we too excentuate the negative, looking with intensity on our weaknesses, when really, in the big picture, they are not as all-consuming as we make them out to be. Little irritations that we magnify out of proportion, that do not need to affect our effectiveness, but, unlike my washing machine that did not allow the external to creep in, we let those "defects" eat away at us until they cause internal turmoil, and corroding of our mind.

And then, my thoughts were abruptly interrupted, as faces of acquaintenances began to pass my mind's eye ... those who's preferences differ from mine .... who may express themselves in less than appealing ways, (according to my own opinion, which may be in question to begin with!) ... who's appearance may not be as "tidy" as our culture requires. If we were honest, deep down, we all feel very much a part of this "Scratch & Dent" world ... wounded hearts, broken dreams, less than perfect appearances.

For those of you who can stand with me, I offer you two three letter words .... "But God"

"But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus." Ephesians 2:4-7

Aren't you glad that God's love isn't a surface attribute, that can be affected by our own surroundings, conditional on external things? Love is an intrinsic attribute of God that He offers us, even in the sight of our short-comings, satisfying in us the longing for perfect acceptance just the way we are! Complete with every scratch of imperfection, and dent of discouragment. God's love sees us as we are "in Him" - complete - "presented faultless before the throne" - with the imputed righteousness of Christ.

And not only do we know the "love" of God,...we know the "kindness" of God! What a pleasant thought. (But that's another day!)

Funny how reflections can arise from simple, every day procedures. Even less than endearing ones! And next time you receive that flyer in the mail advertising the lowest price ever due to imperfections, remember that Christ Jesus, the only PERFECT One, has already purchased you, and your account is paid in full!!! No returns!! And, by the way, by the time you get to His House, He won't need to face one side towards the wall!!!!

Poetry in Motion

Do you ever wonder at times how an All-loving, All-powerful, Creator God takes the time to speak to you so intimately that He takes your breath away??!! Valentine's Day of this year was just such one of those ecstasy moments for me!!!

I had taken my son to school, and was home studying and preparing to lead a weekly Ladies Bible Study group at my church in the book of Ephesians. I had picked-up a coffee, and was intending to study for awhile, and then prepare some Valentine treats for my own family for the evening. I am a total romantic, and so my heart was already soaring with the prospect of the day, dressed in a little red-heart t-shirt, completely embracing the joy of full expectation! After arranging the kitchen table with all of my study books and materials, I opened to the passage I was to begin to study - Ephesians 2:10:

"For we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works which God prepared in advance so that we would walk in them."

God's Workmanship! As I reflected on all that meant to me, I went to my dictionary of original Greek to determine the complete meaning of the word "workmanship". This is when God sent His Valentine to my heart! Sitting here at my kitchen table I learned that the original Greek word translated "workmanship" is actually the word for "poem"! We are God's Poetry in Motion!! I AM GOD'S POEM!! On Valentine's Day, no less!!!! Oh that my life would be a masterpiece with meaning and beauty and harmony! We individually express the depths of His loving and creative heart!!! And at that moment, my heart knew His presence afresh, again ,... allowing me such a beautiful discovery - His Love Gift to me today.

As I continued to study that verse, and rediscover that God has prepared good works for me to accomplish even today, my excitement of walking with Him just magnified! Philippians 2:13 tells us that the result will be that our lives will shine, as His Spirit works in and through us "both to will and to do of His good pleasure." But I must make the choice to "walk in them". You see, He has a plan for me, and for each one who has given their heart in response to His saving grace, but His plan requires my submission to His will, and my choice to "walk" in His way. Further study revealled that "walking" suggests two things - one, it indicates continuous action or habitual lifestyle, and two, it implies progress! It is not enough to learn and study .... but what will I do today, even as I finish my coffee and face my day, hand in hand with Jesus!! He has prepared "good works" for me today. Perhaps it is writing a note to a person God has placed on my heart .... or, it may be holding the door for the mom with three little children as I run into Walmart for a new pair of panyhose .... it may even be getting caught up on laundry!!! Oh Father, alter my perspective of "works" to include all that you would have me do for Your glory today!!! Yes, even laundry!! May we each examine our own hearts to know our walk with Him today expressed in poetry through our lives!

Choosing To Soar!

I feel very much like I am the last of all my friends to enter the world of "bloggers" - Though, not surprising, I was also the last to get my ears pierced!!! - Let's just say "a late bloomer!" But, better late than never!!! Some things just take a little extra courage for some of us, and your step to soar may be very different than mine! Just as long as we make the choice!!

For soaring, as everything else in life, is a choice! And this year, I have chosen that phrase for my goal! Every year I wait on God to see where He is going to take me in the adventure of knowing Him, and this year, He is calling me to Soar!!! (I even enjoy just saying the word, because it conjures up visions of weightlessness, and heigth, and freedom!)

I know that does not mean that this year will be all roses - already, we have dealt with illness in my immediate family, disappointment in some plans, anxious moments, unanswered questions, - but it's not so much the activity, as the perspective of the activity! I am making it a daily choice to soar - regardless! Easy enough for me to say so far - It's only February 1st! But it's also been 31 days of choosing to look above - and fixing my eyes on Jesus, where no other distractions are getting in the way! You see, some how, up where the air is clear, so much of what impairs our vision, pettiness, discouragements, uncertainties, can't reach us there! There, in the arms of God!! And, when life begins to attack us, and it will, instead of retaliating, SOAR!

Rise above!!! It will take some effort at times to rise, but choose to look for the lift, and then, SOAR! And, once you look above, then fix your eyes above, to Jesus! It really only takes that first look, because He has had you in His gaze from the moment your life began, and He will fly to you!!! That first look is the one that takes the strength, when we would often sooner wallow in our own slef-pity. But may I challenge you.... Where would you sooner be??? Today, right now, I CHOOSE TO SOAR! Join me! I'll be watching!