Old Friends

Thirty one years ago God gave me a bosom buddy. Rosemary and I walked with each other through the frustrations of our latter teen years, encouraged each other through the ups and downs of our Christian walk and spent many happy hours together enjoying our friendship as well as the fellowship of our youth group. She was my maid of honour almost twenty five years ago and I was one of her bridesmaids eighteen years ago.

As often happens, the paths of our lives, our moving out of the area for several years and the busyness of work and family led to less and less contact. Even so, we each held a special place in the other's heart. It was good to know that no matter how long it was between phone calls or visits, we could always pick up where we left off. Till you get to the point where that's just not good enough any more.

Yesterday our families got together. We caught up on the news of each family plus that of sisters, brothers and mutual friends. We had a wonderful visit filled with laughter and reminiscing. As we parted we made plans to get together again soon; no more lengthy periods between contact - and I hope we can make that happen.

As we cleaned up I had time to think about how thankful I am for the people God has brought into my life. For the time we have journeyed together, being Ecclesiastes 4 friends - you know the kind...

The Value of a Friend

⁹ Two are better than one,
Because they have a good reward for their labor.
¹⁰ For if they fall, one will lift up his companion.
But woe to him who is alone when he falls,
For he has no one to help him up.
¹¹ Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm;
But how can one be warm alone?
¹² Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him.
And a threefold cord is not quickly broken.

For the contributions we have been able to make to each other's lives. For the memories we have of God's faithfulness to us over the years of our friendship. For the support of someone who loves God and is committed to His purposes and plans.

I'm so very glad that God understands the human heart and knows our need for companionship and I am thankful to Him for providing me with that companionship.

To all my friends - new and old alike -

I thank my God every time I remember you. Philippians 1:3

Works Better When Fixed

One of the places where I work has a Dyson vacuum cleaner. Having seen the commercials on television for so long I was looking forward to using it so that I would understand what was so special about the machine. It did not take me long to decide that I did not like using it at all. It was very hard to push and so after a while, my back began to ache. This expensive machine was really not serving its purpose - and the floors needed to be vacuumed. So a few days ago we decided to call Dyson to see what could be done.

We learned that there was one simple fix they could talk us through on the phone and it did help somewhat but it was still a bit difficult to push the vacuum. While following the instructions we were given to help resolve the problem we discovered that the fibers on the beater bar were almost all gone and so ordered a new one. This morning I got to test the vacuum after one one of the young men who works here installed the new beater bar. I now understand what all the buzz is about Dyson vacuums. It works so well that I might even get excited about vacuuming the salt from the front entrance on winter mornings!

This morning I found out that the vacuum cleaner lives up to its billing when it's in good working condition. I do too. I'm glad that I am able to be in touch with my Maker, tell Him about the problems I am having so that I can receive insight and instructions that will help me work better. I have found that when I am working better I am enthused about life, my marriage, my family, my work and even myself. I think that's how God wants things to be. Me too.

Grace Like...Snow?

Todd Agnew wrote a song called "Grace Like Rain" but yesterday I was picturing grace like snow. Let me explain...

I love winter. I love the snow. I love shovelling snow. Yesterday morning I was up early so that I could get at the snow before anyone else. I cleared our driveway and then began on the neighbour's side. It was not long before our driveway was white again. As I went over it once more a thought came to my mind. Snow falls can be symbolic of God at work in my life.

God pours out His grace, much like a blanket of snow. Unfortunately there are things I do, think and say that serve to scoop up that grace and throw it on a pile, exposing the all-too-human and clearly imperfect aspects of my character and personality. In His mercy, God gently sprinkles even more grace over me, cleansing once again what I have marred with my sin. His grace is relentless as the fiercest snowstorm and His mercy as gentle as the lightest snowflakes.

The pile of snow at the edge of our driveway reminds me of the endless supply of grace available to me. And though I was tempted to sprinkle it over the blacktop of our driveway to symbolize God's grace covering my life, I resisted. God's grace may be like snow but when it comes to life on earth, blacktop driveway and mound of white snow beside is the preferred end result.

So I begin this Sunday morning looking out on the white farm fields beyond my back yard, marvelling once again at God's grace...like snow.

Dealing With The Scraps

When we began looking for a house almost four years ago our children insisted that one of their top priorities was a dishwasher. They were thrilled to find out that our new home had one and in the forty one months since we have been living here, that appliance has run almost daily. It's been a pleasure especially for the family member who's name is on the "Dishes" chore list each day.

For those who have had dishwashers for years, the facts of dishwasher use are well known but for the novices like us, there was a steep learning curve. Our dishwasher is a very basic model that came with the house when it was built thirteen years ago. No bells or whistles, no digital display or promises of cleanest dishes in the world. When used correctly, our dishwasher does its job well though.

We had only been in our house for a few weeks when we discovered that the dishwasher had not drained at the end of the cycle. We pulled off a drain hose to see if it was clogged - determined it wasn't - fiddled with the dial to find the spot in the cycle where the machine drained and finally got the water emptied from the machine. The next day however, it happened all over again. It took a few attempts at solving the problem before we discovered the issue - pieces of food and other refuse collected in the drain reservoir was blocking the pump access. We removed the drain basket, scooped out the offending matter, put things back in place and rejoiced when the machine worked again. Since then we have found it necessary to clean out the drain reservoir every few months.

Earlier this week the dishwasher was opened after its cycle and there again was the familiar site of water in the bottom of the machine. In short order the bits of chicken bone, bread bag clip, piece of aluminium and chunks of broccoli were removed and the water drained. We have it down to an art now and though it is annoying, it is a relatively quick and simple procedure. It's a frustration we have accepted and put up with. Even so, I took the opportunity to remind the family - yet again - of the importance of carefully scraping plates and being careful not to dump garbage in the dishwasher.

This morning as I was about to turn on the machine it struck me how much this process in our kitchen is like our lives. Follow this progression with me...

God has given us the wonderful gift of life with Him. He's given us instructions in His Word about how to effectively live our lives and to be able to operate at maximum efficiency. Those instructions include things like...

• Think about noble, pure, honourable things
• Keep good company
• Set your heart & mind on things above
• Seek Him and His Kingdom
• Flee evil

If we do these things, we will function effectively, at peak efficiency if you will. When we become lax in following these instructions and others that are clearly outlined in God's Word, problems come. It doesn't take long for us to have difficulties with even the simplest of daily functions; we find our coping mechanisms backing up and failing. Eventually it gets through to us - there's refuse we need to get rid of, stuff that's backing up our system and which needs to be removed.

As I turned on the dishwasher just a few minutes ago I was thankful that I could be confident it would work correctly since it's been less than 48 hours since its last clean out. I then considered my heart and mind - are they working at peak efficiency? Are they in need of a clean out? I am also wresting with this thought - am I so adept at dealing with the after-effects of not being dilligent in following God's instructions that it has become second nature? Do I allow myself to function at less than optimal levels because I am doing things that are not good for me?

The dishwasher has finished its cycle now and as soon as I have posted this entry I will open the door expecting to see clean dishes and no water in the bottom of the machine. Throughout the rest of this day I will be facing situations in which I will function best if there are no scraps of things that should not have been allowed into my heart and mind. On my way upstairs to get dressed for work, as I walk out to meet my co-worker who's giving me a ride and as I prepare to start my shift I will be talking with God about that. Making sure the scraps are dealt with and purposing yet again not to allow them in.

Opportunities

Five and a half weeks ago I wrote about choosing to focus on the Reason For The Season. At the end of what is always a hectic time, I am pleased to report that I made the most of many opportunities to do just that. It meant that some of my Christmas traditions and habits were disrupted but it was truly worth it. It also meant that I was able to recognize how other traditions and habits were borne out of that truth - of Jesus being the Reason for the Season - and I was able to enjoy those things even more this year. Being a curious person myself I am going assume that some of you may want me to explain how this happened so...

Our family's Christmas eve tradition was somewhat disrupted by a fabulous opportunity I had to make Jesus the Reason for the Season. We usually hang out at home together baking, listening to Christmas music, wrapping gifts and having supper together before heading out to church. We are going to a new church and they have a dinner for the needy on Christmas Eve. I was asked to be involved and that required me being there at 4:00 pm. I am thankful for a family that is flexible and understanding. Even though I felt a bit torn about leaving them behind as I went, I knew I had their support. Being at the dinner was an incredible experience. The looks of delight and wonder on the faces of the children who received gifts, the expressions of gratitude from those who enjoyed the delicious meal and the effort of those who worked for hours to prepare the meal, decorate the room and then clean up after - it was truly an amazing example of Jesus being the Reason for the Season.

One of my traditions is to do cooking and baking for my family - no bought gifts. I have always enjoyed this process and take great delight in planning what I will make each Christmas. This year my schedule seemed somehow to be more hectic than in the past and I felt really stressed as the days in December flew by. On the first of my appointed evenings to work on my family's gifts I began the project feeling tired and a bit irritable. I did what I often do - began talking to myself. I pointed out the incongruity of my attitude in relation to my task, reminded myself of why I was doing what I was doing and purposed to change my thinking process. In short order I was doing what I blogged about a few months ago - making the most of my thoughts. I intentionally thought about my family members; I reminisced about great times we have had and went through all the things I love and like about them. I prayed for each one individually, asking God to reveal Himself in a fresh way in their lives. Isn't this one of the Reasons Jesus came? So that we could have the privilege of inviting Him into our lives and the lives of others?

Our children served to point out the value of another of our traditions. Our habit is to read the Christmas story as we sit by the Christmas tree once the gifts have been put in place. My involvement at the dinner meant that we could not do it on Christmas eve as we usually do and so I wondered whether we might forgo it this year. Thankfully our children were not willing to miss out on that very important practice and so on Christmas morning, before any gifts were opened and even before coffee or tea, we sat in the living room, read the Christmas story and said Happy Birthday to Jesus.

There's one other thing we did over Christmas that I felt reinforced Jesus as the Reason. We were able to spend time with others, sharing our faith, encouraging one another and being reminded of God's goodness to us. One of those people is a friend who was spending his second Christmas as a widower. My friend is an amazing man from whom I have learned much. One of the things he has taught me and others is that there are no such things as obstacles, only opportunities. I saw and heard that yet again as we chatted during our visits and God used that to inspire my focus for 2011.

As I begin this year God is challenging me to look for the opportunities He is giving me. Not just the ones that are obvious; not just the ones that look like and are labelled as "OPPORTUNITIES", but for those that may be disguised or even hidden. I will be searching for the benefits in my challenges and struggles and I will be asking God to help me identify the opportunities He is giving me. I can hardly wait to see what He is going to uncover in the next 12 months!