Sunrise, Sunset, Son Rise! (by Carolyn)

"Is this the little girl I carried?
Is this the little boy at play?
I don't remember growing older
When did they?
Sunrise, sunset, sunrise, sunset
Swiftly flow the days
Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers
Blossoming even as we gaze."


That's the truth from "Fiddler on the Roof!"

With Mother's Day recently celebrated, many mothers, if they had time, probably waxed a little more sentimental than usual. I am no exception. While children are growing up there is little time to consider how quickly they grow, how soon they will be gone. But it can stop you in your tracks when you turn around and realize that baby you once held in your arms has grown up.

It sent me scurrying to the Bible wondering about mothers. They are honored in the Bible. The word mother or mothers appears almost 300 times and the word mother-in-law 11 times, most always in reference to Naomi, mother-in-law to Ruth.

Hebrew women longed to become mothers. Think of Sarah, Hannah, Rachel and Elizabeth, each of whom "longed" for a very long time. But Mary, the mother of Jesus, an unusual woman filled with faith and humilty, did not have to wait. What did an older Mary think about when she reflected on all those things Luke tells us "She treasured up and pondered in her heart."?

Her joy in giving birth to Jesus must have been dwarfed by her joy in seeing Him raised to life after suffering mockery, shame, torture and a horrific death on a cross. Her Son, whose tears she wiped away, did nothing to deserve such a punishment. His cries on the cross must have pierced her heart. And yet, she stayed. Can you imagine her searing pain as she heard Jesus say while He was dying on the cross, " Dear woman, here is your son." And then to John, His disciple "Behold thy Mother." as He gave His mother into John's care. (John 19:26-27)

Had she known the future would she have agreed to carry God's Son? "I am the Lord's servant. May it be unto me as you have said." (Luke 1:38) Her innocent but trusting "yes" to God's plan included horrible pain and sacrifice. Had she really "found favor with God?" (Luke 1:30) Yes! Jesus fullfilled the prophecy in Genesis 3:15 and overcame death saving us from the "wages of sin." (Romans 6:23) "For just as through the disobedience of one man (Adam) many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of one man (Jesus) many will be made righteous." (Romans 5:19) "The death He died, He died to sin, once for all; but the life He lives, He lives to God. (Romans 6:10) His victory over death to eternal life was the final triumph for us all! Mary knew the future was secure for all who would believe. Oh, yes! She would see Him again. Only this time, He would dry her tears.

"Where are you going, my little one, little one,
Where are going my baby my own?
Turn around and you're two
Turn around and you're four
Turn around and you're a young man
Going out of the door."

Queen Bee (by Judy)

Last night we inducted two queen bees into their hives on our school farm. We tried to do it a couple of days ago, but the vibes weren’t right. It felt too much like some of the workers, who are all female, didn’t like the queens and might have caused mayhem and carnage. Yesterday everything was different. It felt just right. We shook the queens out of their little boxes and they immediately crawled down into the hive to begin doing their “queen thing,” meaning to lay eggs so the hive stays populated. Every hive needs a healthy and happy queen!

The worker bees are all female. They tend the babies, clean the hive, stand guard against intruders, attend to the queen, and travel far and wide, gathering pollen to make honey, and nectar and water to feed the babies. Then there are the drones. They are male, and they have only one purpose – (gulp) sex. Yep, their only job is to mate with the queen. When summer turns to fall, and the hive must hunker down for winter, the drones have no purpose and they will eat too much of the stored honey, so they are all chased from the hive by the workers.

This probably all sounds very prosaic, but the order of it fills me with wonder. When female scouts find abundant sources of nectar, they come back to the hive and dance. If the nectar is close, they dance in circles – a distance away, they dance in figure-8s. There is an amazing division of labor, including undertaker bees who remove dead bodies. All the jobs are done responsibility, with huge effort, and with a completely selfless attitude. Everything they do is in the best interest of the group, including possibly giving their lives. They do the work they have been created to perform, and by their model, they show us what we, God’s creations, should be doing every day, to fulfill His plan – one where we glorify God and draw others closer to Him.

How do I know? The Bible tells me so! Second chapter of Acts: “They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe... All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Sounds a lot like my hives. I have a lot to learn from bees and the Bible as I consider my place in my Father’s world. I’ll keep sharing as I learn.

Sigh ( by Carolyn )

According to the American Heritage Dictionary to sigh is to "exhale audibly in a long, deep breath, as in sorrow, weariness or relief. " When do you sigh?

I never considered it until about a month ago. My little, three year old friend, Sara, and I were washing dishes in the kitchen sink. She was standing on a chair doing all the washing and I was standing right behind her (just in case!). For no reason, other than maybe to get a deep breath, I sighed. She quickly whirled around and said, "What's wrong?" There was worry in her voice and face. Knowing I had upset her, just as quickly I responded, "Why nothing is wrong Sara. Why do you ask?" She wasn't sure. She said, "I don't know. You just sounded different."

The following Sunday our pastor was preaching on Mark 7:31-37, the story of the healing of the deaf and mute man. Verses 33-34 say, "After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man's ears. Then he spit and touched the man's tongue. He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh, said to him, "Ephphatha!' which means, "Be opened!" While there's much to be said about this story, our pastor paused and asked, "Why does Jesus sigh? Why is this noted?" I'm glad he is the pastor and I am not, for I was clueless! He didn't have all the answers, but suggested that we seldom get an emotional response from Jesus, but when we do it is generally a response to sin.

If you combine the "look up to heaven" with his sigh, it absolutely makes sense. Sin again. Makes me sigh, just thinking about it. Since Jesus had taken the man aside, the man must have told others that Jesus sighed, or some witnesses, maybe even Mark, must have been within earshot. How amazing this tiny, seemingly inconsequential detail is even noted in Scripture!

Days later, I was running on the treadmill when I heard a familiar song by Keith and Kristin Getty called "Don't Let Me Lose My Wonder." There is was again! "I've heard you laugh and cry in a single sigh, and a story formed within..." There are many movies and t.v. programs that can make you laugh and cry at once but in a single sigh?

Finally, I saw a video recently of my nephew's wedding. As the bride and groom turned to greet the congregation after the ceremony was complete, the bride sighed a deep breath of relief and a smile spread across her face.

What about all this? "Sigh. I don't know. Do you?"

Earth Day, Every Day (by Judy)

Earth Day 2010. I have been involved with some wonderful planning at the school where I work. Today 500 children are assisting in the planting of beautiful flowering pear trees and stalwart pines . Earlier in the week a team of art majors from Akron U came and helped the kids silk-screen student-designed logos on recycled t-shirts they brought in. Middle schoolers are heading out to clean up a winter’s debris from the Cuyahoga River banks and National Park trails. Every child has written a poem about nature on a green, leaflike file card which has been affixed to “poet-trees” hanging around the school.

Then this morning I woke up to my favorite Christian radio station where a commentator was troubled about Americans who have made worship of the earth their alternative religion and Earth Day their holiday observance. My heart sank. After all, God has entrusted us with this planet fashioned by His hands: “Then God said, ‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness. And let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the heavens and over the livestock and over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth’” (Genesis 1:26).

I guess as always it is a matter of perspective and balance. When I see the beauty of a sunset, the wonder of a galaxy, the intricacy of a spider web, and sweetness of a newborn’s face, I do pause in worship. I worship the Creator who displays all of nature for our pleasure, and who put the capacity to appreciate His masterful works in each of our hearts. In tandem with those gifts from a Lord worthy of worship, I believe that He has presented us with an important task of stewardship which we must handle responsibly. It is way beyond politics or personal preference. It is a holy command. Finally, I believe that God’s awesome presence in the natural world is one of the most compelling arguments for His existence!

We Christians are eyewitnesses, and we are caretakers. I read this line in an article this morning: “God underwrites and sponsors Earth Day, every day, and signs his work.” If I were fortunate enough to have a painting of a beautiful Provencal landscape signed by Claude Monet, I would do several things. I would protect it, I would enjoy it, and I would share it with others. How can my response to God’s masterpiece be any less?

Shhhhh ( by Carolyn)

This blog came out of no where. I sat down with my computer ready to write about another subject, and suddenly I heard a gentle, "Shhhh." I listened. It was very quiet. I thought about God's whisper to Elijah at Horeb. Elijah had just won a stupendous victory by God's strength over the powerful priests of Baal. As a result,through passionate prayer he saw his beloved Israel turn back to faith in God.

Then Queen Jezebel threatened him and he ran like crazy for an entire day stopping only to pray to die. He traveled 40 days and 40 nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God where he stumbled into a cave. What happened?

Sometimes, after a great spiritual victory the evil one attacks with a ferocity unusual even for him. He knows when we are most vulnerable. He knows when we are exhausted. He knows when we doubt. Did doubts of God's love fill Elijah's soul?

When that word, "doubt" entered my mind it reminded me of the one and only love letter my husband ever gave me. He didn't send it. He gave it to me for Valentine's Day back in 1968. I never looked it up, but I'm pretty certain my husband, who is way more engineer than poet, didn't write it. But...he figured it would work!

Doubt the stars are fire;
Doubt that the sun doth move;
Doubt truth to be a liar;
But never doubt my love

O, dear one I am ill at these numbers
I have not art to reckon my groans;
but I love thee best, O most best, believe it.

I believed it! My dear husband, through these simple verses, and of course, a number of other things, persuaded me of his true love.

And God persuaded Elijah! Poor Elijah. He was at the end of his rope. He was feeling alone and horribly sorry for himself. Did God rebuke him for his lack of faith? No. Did he tell him his doubts were sinful? No. Did he reprimand him for forgetting how much God loved him in the past? No.

He told Elijah, "'Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.' A great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake there was a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire.. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. 'What are you doing here, Elijah?'"

Elijah was not alone! GOD WAS WITH HIM! God spoke to him telling him He would triumph. He gave him Elisha so he would have a brother, friend and companion. He gave Elijah new work to do and told him to get busy!

Never, ever doubt God's love for you. He will always love you. He will triumph through you. He will be with you and you and you and you...always. "Shhhh." Are you listening?

Walk Uphill (by Judy)

A friend’s brother has begun training for an ultramarathon. Though there appears to be no standard length for such a test of endurance, it seems agreed that it is anything longer than a marathon (26.2 miles). Even contemplating such a challenge makes me gasp for breath and have wobbly knees. I asked my friend how his brother could possibly get through, and my friend’s answer was succinct – “Walk up hill.”

That sage counsel took me back a couple of weeks when I joined my hiking group in Sedona for our 15^th spring break adventure. Though we five are older of course, we praise God every year for the continuing gift of good health, eager anticipation, and enough cash in our accounts to cover the annual cost. That is, until we were several hours into our first hike. Spirits flagged on this first outing of the trip, which turned out to be a 10-miler over rock-strewn paths and a steady ascents and descents and shrinking water supplies. The car park seemed an infinite distance away. We even considered the possibility that our hiking days were over.

Shame on us! At least on me!! Had I so quickly forgotten my favorite verse in the Bible - a promise from my Father? But those who wait on 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. I forgot about waiting upon the Lord, and about walking uphill, one step at a time.

In today’s Plain Dealer, thoughtful columnist Regina Brett said it another way: “The headlights on my car shine 350 feet, but even with that much light, I can travel all the way to California. I need to see only enough light to get moving.” That reminds me of another Bible verse, one I learned as a child in the King James version: Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. Nuf said. I am ready to join my friends next spring break, (as my earthly father always said), “God willing and the creek don’t rise!”

Precious and Few (by Carolyn)

"Precious and few are the moments we two can share.
Quiet and blue like the sky I'm hung over you.
And if I can't find my way back home,
Aw...it just wouldn't be fair
Cause precious and few are the moments we two can share.

Baby it's you on my mind, your love is so rare
Being with you is a feeling I just can't compare
And if I can't hold you in my arms,
Aw...it just wouldn't be fair
Cause precious and few are the moments we two can share."

That popular song of the early 70's by Climax came to mind last week when a friend asked me why I always run home leaving our girlfriend gatherings early. I was caught in an apparent contradiction. When I arrived I expressed frustration that my husband surprised me and came home that night instead of going on a planned, overnight, work related trip. As I tried to explain, they assumed he insisted I be there, but that wasn't true. I wanted to be there with him. I wanted to go home. I realized nobody, but another Christian sister understood. I could see feathers ruffle as friends thought I did my husband's bidding.

My marriage and my husband are very precious to me, as are my friends!

Over the next few days I thought a lot about it. What are my priorities? Have I got them in proper order? What is the proper order and why?

Jesus first. He comes first in my life, but how do I show Him that? When do I show Him? Do I really love Him with "all my heart, all my soul and all my mind"? No. I confess I do not, but I ought! I must trust Him to keep me faithful to Him first, for "He will never leave me, or forsake me." Others, including my husband, may not be with me until the end. Jesus will be, even though I am, at times, unfaithful and unloving. I trust Him to keep me. "And I know Whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able, to keep that which I've committed unto Him against that day!" "Now I lay me down to sleep. I pray the Lord my soul to keep." He is the Keeper of my faith, my body and my soul!

This life is fleeting and oh, so temporary. Every moment is precious and altogether too few. So, as Jesus says, "As long as Today is called Today" there is still time to show my love to Him, to my husband, my children, my family, friends and neighbors. May God help me to understand and make the most of the time left. May I make much of Jesus as often as I can and show and share His love as long as I have breath. If I do that, I can trust Him with my priorities!