The Message Worth Hearing

Sometimes blessing flow as though a pipe in heaven burst wide open. It was a magical day in Manhattan for my incredible, pinch-me-am-I-dreaming book signing in Manhattan. My zany, fun Aunt Val took me all over the city despite her painful injured feet. I saw more than I ever hoped to see in our day of wandering. And then the book signing -- mobs of people, every book sold, and best yet, I didn't pass out while giving my presentation. The best question was about the spiritual underpinnings of my book -- that it wasn't really a book about towers but something much more important. So I got to speak about God to a roomful of captives. Many later came up to me to tell me they were believers and the spiritual message was the best part of the night. Amen and amen!!!!

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Psalm 37:4 

Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.

Psalm 37:5 

Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.

Matthew 6:21 

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Being An Example

Well, sadly I must leave my folks today and head on to my NYC book signing, then home. I decided in my last day here with my parents that I would try to finish the very last 5 foot border of heavy wet leaves all along the perimeter of their yard. I had initially decided not to do that last bit, as it would be very hard, and besides, most of their yard was now clear.

However, it was a surprisingly beautiful day and it seemed that I really ought to finish the job. Their next door neighbors never rake their leaves, and to make the yard more of a problem, they also have several unfinished projects strewn about their property. I noticed those neighbors watching me as my leaf pile grew and grew on the curb. (This is a very civilized town where a giant leaf sucking truck comes and sucks up the leaves dumped on the curb.) The neighbors watched as I raked the leaves from our lawn adjoining their property. It was a stark difference as I labored. Their yard covered in age old leaves; ours now neat and raked clean. I felt a little like collapsing but the end of the whole project was in sight. I labored on.

The neighbors pulled out their mulching lawn mower. As I raked, I noticed them take down one of their unfinished projects and put it away. I grew wearier and wearier but I was determined on this last day to finish what I had started. Completely. The neighbors were now both puttering about their yard, putting away clutter that had adorned the front yard for the entire year or more...My leaf pile on the curb grew.

Finally, every portion of my parent's yard was leaf free. I was completely exhausted, my hands ached, my throat was parched, and I couldn't quite move my fingers. BUT, I had done what I had been certain I could not possibly do in one week. The neighbor's were now mowing their lawn. I came inside, and mentioned to my parents that I thought I had shamed the neighbors into getting rid of their leaves.
"Nah," they both said.

We went to lunch, and when we returned, the neighbors entire front yard was clear of leaves.
"I would never have believed it," said Mom.
Incidentally, my parent's yard looked wonderful.

You never know when you might be an example to others and spur them on to good works. Or perhaps, if they know that you love Jesus and desire more than anything on earth to honor Him, they might even desire to know Him too. It certainly couldn't hurt to try. Good examples have a way of snowballing.

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Warning: I will be en route to NYC and then in NYC for my book signing over the next two days, and likely unable to blog for a few days. Prayers that I might not be speechless during my speech and that God would be glorified would be much appreciated.
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Matthew 5:16 

In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

1 Timothy 4:12

Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

Ephesians 5:1-33

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God.

James 4:17

So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin.

1 Corinthians 15:33

Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”

Colossians 3:16

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.

Colossians 3:17 

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

The Meaning of Bridges

In the beautiful historic town of Owego, there is a lovely bridge that crosses the Susquehanna. It is a distinctive bridge, with graceful arches along the supports, and iron lampposts along the entire breadth. As one crosses the river towards Owego, the bridge points right to the majestic red brick court house. The town stretches out on either side of that center of justice.

Bridges are a wonderful symbol. Bridges connect two things that cannot otherwise reach each other. Without the Owego bridge, the beautiful little city would be inaccessible by all of us on the other side of the river. This is a perfect picture of the chasm between God and man. We can try all we want to reach God through our imperfect lives and actions, but the Bible tells us we will never succeed. The only thing that can bridge the gap between a holy God and unholy man is Jesus.

The Owego Bridge is even more ideal for my analogy in that it dumps the person crossing right at the place of judgment, the Court House, where verdicts are regularly declared: "Guilty" or "Not Guilty."

When our relationship to God is bridged by Jesus, we come to the place of judgment, but are declared "not guilty." God sees our penalty was paid by Jesus, and the punishment we deserve for our sins instead falls on Him. We are set free. I love bridges...don't you?

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1 Timothy 2:5 

For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus,

Proverbs 21:15 

When justice is done, it is a joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers.

Amos 5:24 

But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream.

Romans 12:19

Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

Isaiah 30:18 

Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.

Micah 6:8 

He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?

Psalm 37:27-29 

Turn away from evil and do good; so shall you dwell forever. For the Lord loves justice; he will not forsake his saints. They are preserved forever, but the children of the wicked shall be cut off. The righteous shall inherit the land and dwell upon it forever.

God's Proclaimation of Love

I had lunch yesterday with my brother and his family. He is a pretty special guy. He will be introducing me at my upcoming NYC book signing. That's because if it wasn't for John, the book would not have been written. It is John who taught me that even something as seemingly mundane as radio towers can be fraught with beauty, mystery, and intrigue. He taught me to open my eyes to a hunk of metal and hear the call of the past linking arms with the future. He is the one who had the faith that I would do something worthwhile with a subject I knew nothing about, and frankly had no interest in. I have John to thank for my book The Tower Builder, and thus ultimately, for the exciting adventure about to ensue in Manhattan for my book signing.

God uses a similar tactic. God gives us a whole world, and then tells us, "You are beloved! You are special! You can do wonderful things and I will be with you!" Sometimes what He asks of us is completely outside our comfort zone. We wonder why He chose us for the assignment. We know we cannot do it, no matter how hard we try, and we try to squirm out of it. But then He whispers, "I created you. I love you. I am here, all around you and within you. Trust me and do what you have been called to do. I will never leave you nor forsake you."

He reminded me of that as I sat down this morning, thinking with some anxiety about the Manhattan Book Signing. I am also to give a talk, per the sponsoring firm's request. I have been practicing each day with much fear and trepidation. I am not a speaker. I am an introvert, and easily lose my train of thought with the spoken word. If I use notes, it is worse. I become robotic and never connect with my audience. If I don't use notes, I may stand there for twenty painful, silent minutes like a deer caught in headlights, waiting for the truck to just smash me to smithereens rather than come up with the next course of action.

So feeling increasingly terror-stricken as the big day (Thursday) approaches, I had awaken before the sun rose. I was sitting down to write my blog, and noticed a rosy light settling over the room. I quietly crept outside, and this is what I saw.  God sent me this this morning.

As I looked gratefully at the sky bursting with light and color, I felt insignificant, but in a good way. Nothing I could do or not do could begin to compare to the grandeur, the scale, the majesty, the significance of God's incredible world and revelation. Yet, somehow, but a tiny speck on God's horizon, I had the overwhelming sense that He had nonetheless sent that magnificent sunrise just for me.
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PS- The Tower Builder is available at http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00JXP8B72. You may also attend the Thursday, Nov. 13 book signing at 1140 Broadway, 6th floor, New York, NY by invitation by contacting me or calling Meridian for an invitation at: 212-431-8643
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Joshua 1:9 

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

Matthew 28:20 

Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Deuteronomy 31:6 

Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”

Hebrews 13:5 

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Romans 8:38-39 

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Resolving to do Hard Things

Day Four of raking and my folks yard is now all clear of leaves except for the outer perimeter. We decided we may leave that area with the wild forest look. I worked a really long time because for one thing, it wasn't snowing like it was the day before, and for another, I was almost done and didn't want to stop.

The pictures don't really show what a big job it was. I wondered how my mother had done this impossible feat for the past forty years by herself. I remember helping some, but I think the lion's share of yard work fell to Mom. She is amazing. I am exhausted, and frankly, don't mind if I never rake another leaf.

But there is no rest for the weary. The log deer my sister Amy and I had made for the folks on our last visit had lost his head. And when I picked him up to take him to the workshop to repair his head, he lost his legs. Now I had to rebuild an entire deer. However, I had paid close attention to Amy, and all her clever shortcuts like drilling holes for the nails first to ease the impossible job of hammering into hardwood. In an hour, I had constructed a deer.

Ta-Da!

I carried him out to join the other deer we had made, who was still in good shape. That deer had been the larger of the two, but my new deer had morphed into the mama deer now. I set the new deer beside the old deer and stepped back to survey my work. I felt deep satisfaction.

My goals for my visit to my parents were now complete. I still have a little leaf blowing in the front yard to do, but I still have some time before I leave for my book signing in NYC. I should leave them in good shape for the winter.

I was rewarded for my work. My parents (as always) treated me to a delicious lunch in a charming little historic town. We talked about what people regret when they look back on their life. I think what I most regret is knowing God's will, and not doing it. In fact, my Bible reading in Jeremiah this week has been about that very problem. I have been very troubled reading the passage in Jeremiah 42. The Israelites asked Jeremiah to tell them God's will, and they would do whatever he said. So Jeremiah told them, and because they didn't like what they heard, they told Jeremiah he was lying, and ignored him...and God. Jeremiah warned them that disobeying God's word would result in calamity, but they didn't care. Everything Jeremiah warned them about did, of course, come to pass.

So I regret when I have known what God requires but I have ignored Him because it was too hard, or too much of a sacrifice, or I rationalized and excused myself. I think it felt so good to finish the raking and construct the deer because I knew it was the right thing to do, and I did it. If only I could approach all my spiritual issues with like resolve.

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Jeremiah 42: 19-21
...Know for a certainty that I have warned you this day 20 that you have gone astray at the cost of your lives. For you sent me to the Lord your God, saying, 'Pray for us to the Lord our God, and whatever the Lord our God says declare to us and we will do it. ' 21 And I have this day declared it to you, but you have not obeyed the voice of the Lord your God in anything that he sent me to tell you.

Borne on Eagle's Wings

We were sitting at the Park Diner overlooking the lovely Susquehanna River with seats right by huge plate glass windows. It was the celebration lunch for my dad's 85th birthday. To add to the picturesque view, big fat flakes of snow were falling. And then what to my wondering eyes should appear, but a bald eagle!!! It went soaring right by the window, not ten feet away. I watched it glide and could barely shout out, "A bald eagle!" before it was beyond our view. My parents caught a tail glimpse of it.
"That wasn't an eagle," said Dad.
"Oh beyond any shadow of a doubt that was a bald eagle!" I exclaimed.
The four people at the table next to us all smiled and winked at me, nodding their heads.
"Nah!" said Dad.
I threw up my arms and appealed to the folks beside us, "Tell him. Was that without a doubt a bald eagle?"
"Yes!!" they all shouted.
I have never seen a bald eagle so close and so clearly. It was a thrill of a lifetime. I was just sorry my folks only caught a glimpse of it. Later, I googled "bald eagles in Binghamton" and discovered there had been another citing recently in South Binghamton. I don't know if it is the only bald eagle in town, but it made my day. In forty or so years living here in Binghamton, my folks have never seen a bald eagle. Take note Dad, God sent you that gift with a message.

I did my hour of raking my folk's yard before the snow set in, increasing the width of the cleared patch of ground. I have perhaps cleared 1/5th of the yard now. Still a long ways to go, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. And I was reinvigorated by the sight of the eagle. I had not prayed specifically for a bald eagle, but it is on my list of creatures I desperately want to see whenever I head out into nature, particularly in my kayak on the river. So I felt (again) that God knew just what I needed, as well as the desires of my heart, and was graciously granting it even before I had formed the specific thought.

And of course, it reminded me of some of my favorite verses: Isaiah 40:29-31

²⁹ He gives power to the faint,
    and to him who has no might he increases strength.
³⁰ Even youths shall faint and be weary,
    and young men shall fall exhausted;
³¹ but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
    they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
    they shall walk and not faint.

Did you catch that? To him who has NO MIGHT He increases strength. We never need to rely on our own strength. Never. God will renew our strength, and we will soar like eagles, with hearts that will not grow weary or faint. I do not believe this refers to physical strength. We all have evidence that after physical exertion, no matter how hard we pray, there comes a point after which we simply have run out of juice. I think this verse refers to spiritual strength. God will hang on to us when we are so weary we can not hang on to him. If we cannot soar like eagles, He carries us on His wings. We are secure in His salvation.

I stumbled into the house after my hour of raking and dragging the leaves out to the curb. I was covered in mud and leaf pieces, and my arms ached. I didn't feel I could lift another leaf. An hour is my limit. Praise God it is not His!

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Exodus 19:4 

You yourselves have seen what I did to the Egyptians, and how I bore you on eagles' wings and brought you to myself.

Strengthened for the Battle

I spent an hour or so non-stop yesterday gathering leaves. This photo above is the "before" picture. My folks have a huge yard of trees. My job for the week I am here in NY is to get all these leaves raked before I depart. I am worried that I be will be thwarted by rain and cold. The forecast is not promising. Here is another "before" picture.

While a fine mist of rain had started already, I knew as long as it was only sprinkling, I needed to get out there. I had about an hour before lunch and before heavier rain was forecast. Lunch is not just lunch at my folks. It is an event. Rain or even hurricanes might not stop me, but woe to she who tries to ignore the lunch timetable. So I worked furiously for that hour, after which my father came out and gave me a ten minute warning to be showered and ready for lunch. Truth be told, I was ready to take a break. Yard work is exhausting. Here is what I accomplished:

And here is another:

I think if I could have 6 days without rain, I could do this job. If it rains the whole time I am here, all bets are off. The afternoon after lunch, it was raining, so no yard work.  The rain and cold continued all day. This morning when I looked out the window at the back yard, it was almost as though I hadn't worked on it at all. The whole yard stretched before me still covered in a foot-thick layer of leaves. I could barely discern the dent I had made the day before in the mat of now heavy sodden, leaves.

Here were some of my morning verses:

Isaiah 49:4,14  But I said, “I have labored in vain;
    I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity;
yet surely my right is with the Lord,
    and my recompense with my God.”...
The Lord has forsaken me;
    my Lord has forgotten me.”

Sometimes this is what life feels like. It feels like we have been working as hard as we can to do all we know we should do in service to God, and the day comes to a close, and nothing seems to have been accomplished. People still scoff at us and Him, non-believers reject His promises despite our most earnest pleas, His presence and miracles are kicked aside, relationships still founder, and persistent sin is still persistent. The leaves keep piling up, new ones fall, and the work before us will never end.

But then, I read on. Never only read a partial message. Here is how God in Isaiah 49 answers the despairing cry of the writer:

“Can a woman forget her nursing child,
    that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb?
Even these may forget,
    yet I will not forget you.
¹⁶ Behold, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands;
    your walls are continually before me.
¹⁷ Your builders make haste;
    your destroyers and those who laid you waste go out from you.
¹⁸ Lift up your eyes around and see;
    they all gather, they come to you.
As I live, declares the Lord,
    you shall put them all on as an ornament;
    you shall bind them on as a bride does.

Engraved on His hands! We can not be forgotten. He will not leave us. Nothing we do in His name will be in vain. Lift up our eyes and see! ( see what...a leaf?) No! See that he has gathered "builders" not destroyers around us! The enemy will be vanquished, our efforts will be blessed, and God will be our refuge and our strength! 

With this in mind, I head back out to the lawn of leaves, strengthened for another day of battle.
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Isaiah 49: 25-26
for I will contend with those who contend with you,
    and I will save your children. 
 I will make your oppressors eat their own flesh,
    and they shall be drunk with their own blood as with wine.
Then all flesh shall know
    that I am the Lord your Savior,
    and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob.”