Saturday, March 31, 2018

He Is Risen!

Yesterday was Good Friday.  A day set aside to remember the suffering and death of Jesus.  A time when Christians gather together for quiet reflection.  Jesus died for you, for me. We worshiped with friends last night, as we gathered to step into the experience that encompasses the grief and suffering that took place at Golgotha.  Remembering that by His stripes were were saved and healed.

Recently I was watching a morning TV show and it was mentioned that Good Friday is the most important day of the Christian faith.  Whoa......for me that made little sense.  For me Easter is the most important day for Christians.  Three words says it all.  He.  Is.  Risen.  He is risen!

Tomorrow Christians gather across the globe to celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Lent began on Valentine's Day and Easter is on April Fool's Day.  I like the idea that when Jesus died Satan thought he had defeated the Son of God.........but Jesus rose again!  Surprise!  It was like an "April Fool's" on Satan!  Jesus had the last word, the victory is His!  And ours.

We have loved ones who are walking through their own Valley of the shadow......Words of death have been spoken.  Another is struggling with the side effects of chemo as it kills cancer cells while causing havoc in the body.   I, myself, am awaiting healing, being challenged by a serious eye problem that is not yet responding to medication.  A sweet friend struggles with fatigue and heart palpitations that are relentless.  I am sure you could think of others, or add your own name to those who are walking through the Valley of the Shadow.  The opportune word here is that we walk thrugh it.  We also know that some day Golgotha will come to each of us, but it is not the end.

Jesus rose again, and because He rose again we, too, have victory! We, too, will walk through the valley into eternal life with our King Jesus!  HE.  IS.  RISEN!!  Tomorrow as we celebrate the Resurrection let us remember Victory is ours!  He is risen!






Monday, March 26, 2018

Saturday Surprises!

Saturday was filled with surprises!  We woke up to 17 and 1/2 inches of snow!  Come back Spring!!!
The second big surprise was a birthday party my sweet hubby had secretly planned for me.  The weather kept a few from coming but Saturday was a great day filled with laughter, stories, and family.  All my sisters were able to come and BIL Dan was here too.

Joel had hoped to keep it all a secret but he was so disappointed with the weather that I knew something was wrong.  So with a shaky voice and tears he told me he had planned a surprise party but the weather was not cooperating,  Can I just say how much I love this man?

Kay, Jo, Renee, Janelle, Jan

It has been forever since my sisters were all here together.  As I have shared some before, I have a unique family.  I have my two older sisters who both helped raise me in our home and later in their homes.  My dad died when I was nearly 7 and mom was battling alcoholism during my childhood.  I was parented by my oldest sister Jo and her husband Dick for 8 years in her home, and before that my next older sister Jan took care of me at times.  My sister Jo took me in and her 4 kids (very close to my age) became my siblings)  Not everyone understands it, and they don't need to.  It worked well for me.  My sister Jan has been a bright shining star in my life.  She has a loving and kind spirit and as Joel says, "See's the sunshine in every day".    Kay and Janelle have been an important part of my life, and our two brothers too.  I have been blessed.

But not more blessed than when God placed Joel into my life.  I am so grateful for the man he is.  Faithful to God and to me, caring, joyful, loving, solid.  He was so determined that this party be about "me" and bring joy into my life, celebrating 70 years on earth.  My journey to 70 has had several challenges, like most of us, and he wanted this to be a party I would remember.  I was completly clueless with all the planning he did.  No idea that he invited people, organized and ordered food and a cake, no idea until Saturday morning when the storm brought his confession.  It was so nice of Jan, Jo, and Janelle to come down Friday night so they could arrive before the weather.  Saturday was a great day of fun and laughter and reminiscing.  I was stunned that my sister Jan would fly here from Arizona just for the celebration.  Bless her heart.....and her hubby Lanny who in the midst of chemo reactions insisted she come.  Sunday everyone headed home early afternoon.  Jan flew back to Arizona and Lanny today,

      
Renee, Jan, and Kay


Life is filled with the unexpected ~ the good, the bad, and the ugly.  This "unexpected" was a fun Saturday with some of the people we love and care about.  It also was a day for me to give thanks for the wonderful man God brought into my life.  Thank you Joel for working so hard to make my birthday special.  





Thursday, March 22, 2018

Adventures


Recently we stopped at our favorite popcorn store on our way home from our oldest and her family's home in Wisconsin.  The store is a combination of great popcorn snacks, and gifts.   We saw a plaque hanging on a wall that drew our attention.

~~Adventure~~
It will leave you speechless
Then turn you into a storyteller."

We love adventure.  Every time we get in the car and head somewhere we have not been before, we get excited.  A new adventure awaits us!  We also love the adventures in faithful living that God brings our way.  Our adventures in life and travel make for some great stories to share.  We saw that when we were with two of our grands (and their parents) this past weekend.  We had stories they had not heard, and their curiosity kept us talking!

I am reading a book titled, "At Home In The World" by Tsh Oxenreider.  It is the story of a family of 5 who sell their home, grab their backpacks and spend 9 months traveling around the world, spending "a rather ordinary 9 months in an extraordinary way".  An adventure to be sure.

We have friends who have spent the past two years preparing for a great adventure of their own.  They sold their home, purged their possessions, and soon will become full time RV'ers.  Their dream is taking off as they retire and refire on the road.  Another way of living in an extraordinary way.

Not everyone is eager for the kind of adventure Tsh Oxendreider and our friends are launching into, but I can guarantee you that there is enough adventure occurring in our own backyards to leave us speechless at times.............and turn us into storytellers.  The ordinary does often involve the extraordinary.  Most adventures are good, some are bad, and there are even a few ugly, but as we tell our stories one thing is consistent.  God.  He is in the midst of it all.  There is not one adventure I would want to step into without Him by my side.  Not one.


Friday, March 9, 2018

A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To Jury Duty


I have been copying and printing off selected blog posts I have written over the past several years.  I came across this one at a time when I needed a good laugh!  I thought maybe you could use one too.....This was written in 2014.

Joel and I both were called to be in the jury pool at the same time, so we have been calling in every Monday to see if our particular panel needed to report.  I was told to report to the court house today by 8:30 am and was selected to move into the jury "box" for questioning by the prosecutor and the defendant's lawyer.  This was a domestic abuse criminal trial so questions leaned in that direction as twenty-one of us tried to answer openly and honestly what was presented to us.

Secretly I was hoping to not be chosen since I head back in tomorrow for the second laser surgery on my eye and I did not want to rearrange that appointment.  I need not have worried.

Here is how the questioning went......."Does anyone know a family member or friend or have you yourself experienced domestic violence/assault?  I was one of two who raised their hands, having had two family members that I know of who have experienced domestic assault.

Another question was, "Have any of you ever had any positive or negative experiences with the police?"  Thinking only of our local police, I raised my hand, responding when asked to explain about a suspect the police were chasing who hid in the attic of our garage.  After the police left the area I spotted him leaving our garage.  Two days later he came back with his friends to intimidate me into not identifying him.  Needless to say, the police we involved.

Then this question came up......"Does anyone have a family member who is a police officer?"  Once again my hand went up!  Our son is a police officer.  I was further questioned on whether this would influence my verdict in this case.  I said no, but when we were asked if any "Joe off the street was a witness and contradicted what the police witness was saying, would I tend to believe the police.  I truthfully had to ponder that, since I have a deep respect for the police.  It led further into what would make a police officer a credible witness.

Soon another question came to light...."Has anyone experienced violence personally?  I asked for clarification  Domestic assault only?  No, any kind of assault or violence.  My response was another question......" Well is it considered assault when someone threatens to kill your husband, the police have to come in your home to defend and protect you, and the threats continue for a long time....."  I was told that they would consider that an assault.  Okay, then.  I raised my hand.

Then came the question, "Have you ever seen anyone assaulted?  Good grief!  I raised my hand one more time.  Seriously I was getting embarrassed......I told how my son and I observed a man beating up his wife in a vehicle in front of our home which was also the church parking lot.  I then said, "Wow, your questions are bringing up all these memories!"   I then explained that my husband was a pastor and these kind of things just happened.  Didn't they?  (I did not even share all the times we have had to call the police)

Then, (I am not kidding) the lawyer for the defense asked, "Have any of you had to call the police to report violence? "  My response???   "And.......that would be me!"  The potential jurors laughed.

The final thing that got me removed from duty was when they asked if we knew any of the people on the jury.  I did recognize a man who was in our former church.  I said as much, and the man leaned over to smile at me and said, "Yes, Renee's husband was our pastor for many years!"  Giggle....

So there was no surprise when I was dismissed.

I told Joel the story and he laughed until tears came and he was still laughing 2 hours later.  This adventure got us talking about all the "interesting" encounters we have had in our ministry....with people threatening Joel's life.......seeing violence occur and trying to stop it........living with a threat on Joel's and our family's life for over six years.......the man hiding in our attic......Joel and sometimes myself being called to more than one crisis involving drugs, alcoholism, violence, murder, abuse, etc.  We began to wonder if all pastors and their families have experienced such events in their lives.

And I began to ponder writing that book my sister Jan keeps telling me to write....I know how it would begin.......

A funny thing happened on the way to jury duty.....

Tuesday, March 6, 2018

We Are The Storm

To use an old quote........March is coming in like a lion this year....I hope that means it will leave like a lamb!  We started yesterday with rain, then sleet, corn snow, and then snow with high winds adding to the mix.  All the snow that left with our 50 degree weekend weather, has been replaced by a few inches of the white stuff today. Ugh!  It is really pretty to look at the trees and bushes dressed in winter white, but still.....ugh!  Let winter be gone..........come Spring, come!

We also have birthdays that come in March.  Our daughter, our daughter-in-law,  and myself.  My birthday will be coming in like a lion for me ~~ 70.  Seriously.  When did I get that old?  And how?  Only by the grace of God.  To have a child close to 50 and finding myself facing my seventh decade is a bit sobering.

Recently we heard a story about a man who came to visit a place he used to work.  He drove up and got out of his car, a little unsteady on his feet.  He walked around inside the place he had worked in the 50's and reminisced about his life then.  People gathered to hear his story.  Someone offered to walk him back to his car, thinking this 80 plus year old guy may like having someone to lean on.  He said he would like the company and then shared how old he was.  He was 102 years old!  Still on the move! (And still driving?)

When I turned 60 it was a big deal for us.  Truth be told, not many people believed I would live to be 60.  Lyme was sucking the life right out of me.  And then healing came.  Joel keeps telling me we are going to live another 30 years.  I am not so sure I want to, but don't tell him that!  He has great plans for a long life, and we should have plans and dreams.  That is what keeps us going.  How old was Moses when he did his best work for God?  Over 80 I believe.  Yeah.......

I remember when I lost a college friend.  I had roomed with her our first year, and lived with her a couple weeks while working in Minneapolis.  Shortly after that she was killed in a car accident.  The same thing happened with another woman we knew from Bible college.  And another friend died in her early 30's from severe diabetes.  Cancer claimed a few others over the years.  So, I guess what I am saying is how blessed I am to celebrate 70.  Nearly 3 decades of Lyme, and three different kinds of cancer have not ended my life.  I. am. still. here.  So are you!  Life is worth celebrating!  Every minute of it.  So on the first day of Spring I will be dancing a happy dance and rejoicing at 70!

Sometimes it is hard to hang on to that when storms come into our lives.  Just like the snow storm we had yesterday, the winds blow, visibility is low, and there is nothing we can do but stay safe in our homes.  A storm of sickness, disease, or tragedy can do the same.......and we find there is nothing we can do but stay safe and secure in our Father's arms.   I found a wonderful image yesterday that gave me pause and helped remind me that when the enemy comes against us, and he will.......we need to remind him that we not only can stand strong in the storm with Jesus but that we ARE the storm!



Seventy is going to be an awesome year!  I'm so grateful to be here to celebrate and live it.  And if Satan whispers lies to me,  I will remind him that this soon-to-be-70 year old woman is the storm. Celebrate your life today.  You may be walking in divine health, you may be battling disease, or like so many laid up with a nasty winter virus that won't let go.  Wherever you find yourself, celebrate!  Sometimes life comes like this March ~ as a storm....but then the Lamb comes and we remember with Jesus we are the storm!  So grateful. 



Thursday, March 1, 2018

A Steady Diet

When we were staying at the home of Bethel members in Redding CA, the hosts would have beautiful worship music on their TV flooding the house.  Our room was right up front, a sunroom made into a lovely bedroom, so we could hear the music by Julie True ~ so soft and soothing. 

Worship music that soothes and relaxes.  Joel listens to  "elevator music" whenever he is in the office working.  I decided since he is much more relaxed than me, I need to take his advice and find my own ways to bring peace into my days.

I love Bethel music but a steady diet of it is not relaxing.  I love Julie True, but a steady diet of it keeps me from getting things done.  I guess it is a lot like other things in our lives.  For instance, pancakes!  I love almond flour pancakes with almond butter, fresh strawberries and blueberries and topped with coconut whipping cream.  A steady diet of it would take my apple shape to a whole new level.  I like reading and watching murder mysteries, but a steady diet of them would have me jumping at every noise I hear.

There are a few things we do need a steady diet of.......you know where I am going here. We need a steady diet of God's Word, prayer, worship, and interaction.  We need a steady diet of Papa God in our lives, nourishing us.  Yes. 

A daily diet of picking up the love story that God wrote and fills our heart.  Do you remember writing or receiving love letters to or from someone special?  They warmed our hearts and put a smile on our face.  Well, God's Word is filled with love letters to His kids.  They touch our hearts, change our lives.

A daily diet of giving our Creator thanks and praise.  Praise is a way to communicate with our Father.  It is a weapon of warfare.  It shifts the atmosphere around us and in us.

A daily diet of prayer.  Talking to our God about all our needs, desires, dreams, hopes, and listening.  Quietly listening and looking for Him to show up.  He is always communicating with us, we just need to tune in.  Ask, seek, and you will find. 



A daily diet of worship.  Lifting our voices, our hearts, our eyes to our God.  It takes the focus off our our circumstances and on to the One who Heals, Saves, Loves. 

A daily intentional stepping into a relationship with Him.  He is always with us.  He lives IN us for Heaven's sake.  Well, really for our sake.  Share with Him just like you do your spouse or loved ones.  Let Him love on you...........

This is the kind of steady diet we need to be nourished ~ body, soul and spirit.