Acts 9:1-19

This week at Lectio, we read the story of 'The Blinding of Saul' (The Message) and I saw that no matter which direction we are coming from, as long as we obey we can end up at the same table.

The story went like this -

Saul was out for the kill.
He was suddenly dazed by a blinding light.
Found out it was Jesus.
Jesus said, 'get up, enter the city and you'll be told what to do'
Saul was blind, but went.

Ananias was spoken to by Jesus.
'Yes, Master?'
Get up and go.
Lots of protest.
Jesus says, 'Don't argue, Go!'
Ananias goes, put his hands on Saul.

Saul could see again, was baptized and both men sat down together and ate a hearty meal.

I think I am both like Saul and Ananias mixed together. I can see me standing in the middle of a see saw and trying my hardest to balance it evenly, but I know I'm failing. One side keeps going up and the other down - back and forth, over and over.

On Saul's end, God is saying, 'ok, I've blinded you, now get up and go and I'll tell you what to do when you get there.'

On the Ananias' end, I say I am a Christian, I feel I listen to God and I say 'yes' to Him. But then comes the, 'I can't or I'm afraid' words when I'm asked to do something.

I don't know where I'm going and I think, 'how long do I need to be blind before I can see or maybe I argue with God when he asks me to do something and why am I so afraid?' I don't know any of the answers and pray one day I won't be blind anymore.

Nancy

Matthew 7:11

Matthew 7:11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father, who is in heaven, give good things to those who ask him. (ESV)

My friend, Carol, decided a hamster would be a good gift for her three children. They were delighted in this little guy and enjoyed many hours watching him run in his 'squeaky' wheel, filling up his cheeks with food for winter and the many, many escapades he embarked on when he got out of his cage. Jub Jubs brought the family closer together as they laughed at his antics and then cried when his life was over.

Carol gave a tangible gift to her kids because she loves them and wanted them to learn and experience what it was like to live with a pet. After reading the 'Hamster Diaries' she wrote, I think the whole family learned more than they realized as he captured their hearts. Who would have thought the gift of a little ball of fur could be and do so much for so many?

Think about this. If the gifts from parents to children are good, how much greater God's gifts are to his children. They surpass anything we can imagine.

Nancy

Proverbs 18:10

Proverbs 18:10 God's name is a place of protection---good people can run there and be safe. (The Message)

Do we ever wonder what our names mean and how we came to get them? Some of us were named for relatives or close friends, famous people, whatever was popular at the time or maybe because of what the names mean.

My daughter, Laura Jane, was named for my grandmother, Laura Jane Withington. The origin is Latin and means - Laurel. My daughter, Rebecca Leigh, was named for the Biblical Rebekah (and also for her 10th great grandmother, Rebecca Nurse of Salem, MA) and Leigh for my grandfather, Leigh Woodman. The origin is Hebrew and means - to tie.

What does God's name mean? The names given to God reveal his character. Jehovah Jireh - my provider; Jehovah Rohi - my shepherd; Jehovah Rephe - my healer; Jehovah Adonai - my strength; Immanuel - God is with us; Abba - my Father.

Proverbs 18:11 says - The rich think their wealth protects them; they imagine themselves safe behind it.

But if we look at the different names of God, we see that he is the one who protects us. All the money in the world can't do it. When we are afraid, we can run to God and we will be safe behind him.

Nancy

Matthew 11:5

Matthew 11:5 The blind see, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, the wretched of the earth learn that God is on their side. (The Message)

When John was locked up in prison, he got wind of what Jesus was doing and sent his own disciples to ask Jesus if he the One they'd been expecting, or must they still wait?' Jesus told them to go back and tell John what was he was doing. Matthew 5 is what John was told. Jesus heals.

I had a little girl, Leah, in my daycare who was blind. She was born with two healthy eyes, but within a few months, it was discovered she had a tumor in one eye and the eye had to be removed. And when she was just over a year old, she had her second eye removed. With God and proper treatment, she was healed of her cancer.

Leah was an amazing little girl. She went to public school, rode on the bus, played outside with my kids and read huge Braille books. She loved to read and would read to my girls by rapidly running her fingers over a series of raised dots. She never let her blindness keep her down. She would take Laura's upper arm and off they would go as one person and we have so many stories of those adventures. She has since grown up and moved to California where she lives by herself and teaches Braille to children at a school for the blind and is writing a novel. This past year, she even flew round trip from CA to NH by herself.

Jesus heals, but not always the way we might want as I'm sure Leah's parents would have preferred a healthy sighted child. Leah's cancer was healed and she lost her physical eyes, but in God's plan, he knew she would be someone special. And now God has her teaching others to read and showing them how not to let their blindness keep them from living a full life.

Leah can see what God has done in her life and can see how he is using her to help others. Sometimes we can't see what God is doing even with perfectly good eyes.

Nancy

Proverbs 17:6

Proverbs 17:6 Old people are distinguished by grandchildren; children take pride in their parents. (The Message)

The NIV talks about how gray hair is a crown to the aged and to live to see one's grandchildren is considered a great blessing.

I know I'm blessed to see my grandchildren as much as I do and it's special when I get to spend one on one time with them and it's amazing how much I learn when I give them undivided attention. My oldest grandson can share his thoughts and his feelings and his dreams with me, but my other two grandchildren are toddlers and our time is mostly eating, using Play Doh, reading or me asking about Thomas the Train or the Wiggles. Never the less, it's one on one time and we have very special conversations.

I pick my grandson up at his school once in a while and sometimes he's talkative and other times he's exhausted and just wants to sit in his car seat and veg out. One talkative afternoon last week, we saw, in a valley off to the right, a long fog bank and he started asking what it was and why it was there, all the questions a 5 yr old can think of and more questions than I knew answers to.

But I did get to tell him about the Soucook River and how the fog was over top of it all along the river route. I got to tell him how Grammie used to swim in it under the open truss bridge with her friends. He asked to see the place, so we drove down No Pembroke Road and I showed him where I parked my bike and went swimming and now he wants to swim there just like Grammie did. He wants to ride his bike there with his friends too.

Different Grammies have different experiences, but each grandchild is so special in their Grammies eyes. They are all blessings from God and I'm proud to be a Grammie and have these babies at my side. I can't thank God enough for them.

Nancy

A Poem

A Poem

The following is a poem(or prayer) I enjoyed, taken from The Magnificat; Lenten Companion. Its a devotional for Lent, but its been interesting to read. Its a little booklet given to me by a co-worker who is Catholic. We often discuss our beliefs & exchange prayer requests.

Prayer for Conversion of Heart

Sovereign Maker of all things,
God of covenant and grace,
Every creature knows your power,
Quakes with fear before your face.
But your mercy far exceeds
What our minds can comprehend;
Deep compassion stays your hand,
Chastening not, though we offend.

You have promised to forgive
Contrite sinners who repent;
So I come with humbled heart,
By your word made confident.
I have sinned, Lord, I have sinned,
Well I know my wickedness.
Yet I make this prayer to you:
Lord, forgive me, heal, and bless.

Let me not be lost in sin,
Banished to eternal night;
God, who hears the penitent,
Let your goodness show your might.
Though I be unworthy, Lord,
Your great mercy I will claim,
Till I join the hosts above
Who forever praise your name.

Hope you liked it as much as I did!

Suzanne

Proverbs 15:30

Proverbs 15:30 A twinkle in the eye means joy in the heart and good news makes you feel fit as a fiddle. (The Message)

Proverbs 15:30 A cheerful look brings joy to the heart and good news gives health to the bones. (NIV)

The word 'twinkle' in my Entourage dictionary says "a brightness in somebody's eyes, caused by a feeling such as amusement, delight or mischief." (delight)

The word 'cheerful' in the same dictionary says "in a happy and optimistic mood or happy and optimistic by nature." (optimistic mood)

I write a section our Church newsletter called "The Cheerful Look" and it's filled with the who, what, when and where's of our church families. Accomplishments, new jobs, births, marriages, engagements, proud moments, awards, new address/phone - anything that promotes a 'brightness in our eyes' or a 'happy and optimistic mood' when it's read. And I'm hoping it does because God's children are doing great things.

And so what does good news do to us inside? It makes us smile, our faces are brighter, our heart rates are slower, our thoughts are softer and each of those things are projected to the people we meet in life.

Knowing God may be some people's only cheerful news. Knowing him and knowing his love will hopefully bring a smile to those who struggle. We know people aren't consistent, but God always is.

And as we take on each day, we should look for something good in each person, in our lives and in whatever task we have before us. For some, that can be very difficult to do and when that happens, we must turn to God and ask him for a smile, ask him for help. Because if we do, we may find by the end of the day, we have some joy in our heart because of a smile from someone.

Nancy

James 3:13

James 3:13 Do you want to be counted wise, to build a reputation for wisdom? Here's what you do: Live well, live wisely, live humbly. It's the way you live, not the way you talk that counts. (The Message)

The minute I read this, I thought of David, a boy in my sixth grade class at the Dame School. He was a smart boy and got very good grades - always. Not like the rest of us, who fooled around, talked and didn't pay attention only half the time. David never fooled around, he was always focused on his work and when he got good grades, everyone in the class knew it.

Back then, we didn't have rugs and the desks were screwed to the floor and were lined up in rows. And we didn't wear sneakers. David wore leather shoes and I can remember every time he got an A on his paper (usually in math), he would run down the aisle from the teachers desk and slide with his shoes on the floor with a huge smile on his face that said, 'I got an A'. No doubt, David was smart, but he struggled with his 'humble' personality and as a result sometimes wasn't very well liked.

In a book I have, it says that wisdom from above is characterized as pure, peace-loving and considerate and wisdom from below is characterized as self-centered and driven by selfish desires.

I realize that David was only 10 or 11 yrs old, so maybe he had an excuse. Maybe he hadn't been taught how to live humbly and have the wisdom from above and maybe had to learn the hard way.

As adults, we often live or act as if we hadn't been taught and our wisdom shows it comes from below. Maybe it's not intended, by never the less, it shows.

So what should our goals be? What are we being taught by God?

Live the life of wisdom from above and be humble at all times. It's how you live, not the way you talk that counts.


Nancy

Proverbs 22:6

Proverbs 22:6 Point your kids in the right direction--when they're old they won't be lost (The Message)

It takes time to 'point' or 'train' or 'teach' our children the truth about God and how to live within his rules while they are growing up in a world that doesn't always follow God.

When my daughters were young, #1, I was their mother and #2, a friend. Some days they didn't think I was too nice, I was mean and they didn't like me.

Maybe I didn't buy them what they wanted or allowed them to go where they wanted. But, we also had fun over the years like playing in the woods creating Fisher Price People scenarios in the brook or sending Barbie dolls floating through the pipe under the road, Laura on one side and Bec on the other waiting for them to pass. (I believe there is one stuck in the pipe in the middle of the road to this day)

I tried to take the time and effort to teach my kids about God and what he expected of them. My knowledge was limited, but I knew the basics and now I see my daughters applying those principles to my grandchildren.

At children's time in church, Natalee, my granddaughter, had the story box.

When her gift was taken out by Pastor Doyle, I wondered how she would react as she's only 1 1/2. She was a trooper and let it go willingly. My grandson, Nicholas (age 5), at the end of the story said (loudly said) to her, 'Thank you for sharing, Natalee'. I thought, wow, that's my grandson saying that, on his own volition, as a praise to his cousin. In his child way, he lifted her and he encouraged her and that is a God rule.

The best thing we can give a child is our time. The more time we give, the more we can teach God's principles to them. And when I see it passed from my child to my grandchild or grandchild to grandchild, I know I trained my kids they way God wanted me to.

Nancy

2 Timothy 3:16

2 Timothy 3:16 Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another---showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God's way. (The Message)

The NIV notes say that Paul affirms God's active involvement in the writing of Scripture, an involvement so powerful and pervasive that what is written is the infallible and authoritative word of God.

When I was in high school, I had a friend who lived in town near the Merrimack River. We used to swim there occasionally and one day, she decided we should swim across the river and I said ok, despite the fact I was not a strong swimmer and besides the river didn't look that wide. Well, I got across with no problem, but then realized I had to swim back and my arms were tired and not to mention, I also have asthma. Anyway, what could happen?

It wasn't a smart idea on my part to swim back as soon as I did. I had to float on my back and to do it without floating downstream and I swore I was going to drown. When I thought I couldn't breathe anymore, my friend's encouraging words helped me relax, breathe better and I made it back in one piece.

When we feel like we are drowning, not in water, but in life situations, Gods encouraging words will help us relax and breathe better. All scripture is God-breathed and when we forget how or can't breathe, we must open our Bibles and read the Scriptures, knowing it is the authoritative word of our God.

Remember to thank God for your friends who help you breathe when you forget how and are sinking to the bottom. And don't forget to thank your friends as they may not realize how important their friendship is in keeping you afloat so you don't drown.

Nancy

Proverbs 12:22

Proverbs 12:22 - God can't stomach liars; he loves the company of those who keep their word. (The Message)

Proverbs 10-14 show themes of contrasts of the righteous and the wicked - honest, dishonest - disciplined, not disciplined - good direction, losing your way - fools, wise men etc. And life is full of contrasts. Lying is an example of the honest/dishonest contrast-an are we or aren't we honest? It should be simple as God doesn't mince his words.

What happens when you lie to people? When do they stop believing the things you say and then you wonder why?

My children were brought up the story of The Boy Who Cried Wolf. This was a little shepherd boy who got bored watching his sheep. So for attention, he yelled 'wolf' and every time the villagers came to drive the wolf away, he laughed at them as there was no wolf. Throughout the day, this continued to happen and the people were getting very angry. When the wolf actually did appear and was chasing his sheep, the boy again cried 'wolf' and this time no one came. Finally in the evening, everyone wondered where the boy was and went to find him. He was in the field crying, wondering why no one came when he cried 'wolf'. And an old man told him, 'no one believes a liar..even when he is telling the truth'.

That little shepherd boy learned the hard way about telling the truth and some of us have learned the hard way as well. Any lies (white included) can stop right now. We know God can't stomach a liar period. End of story. But God is forgiving and when the lying stops, God will be pleased and he will delight in us again.

Nancy

A Glimpse of . . .

William Tyndale

I compiled a little information about William Tyndale taken from a couple of websites on google. He captured my interest because of his immense dedication to spreading the truth of God's word, right up to his horrible death. I like reading about Christians like him because their stories dwarf my problems and remind me that the things I think I suffer are nothing in comparison.

In particular, the website, Friends of William Tyndale...History of the English Bible, was a really fun website. They write: For centuries Tyndale has been revered by scholars and church historians as "The father of the English Reformation," "The Apostle of England," and as the man who made the English Bible widely available. Yet, the remarkable account of his life and his extraordinary accomplishments are little known or appreciated. Through his unparalleled service to Christ and His church, Tyndale was used of God to profoundly influence the course of history.

William Tyndale was born about 1495 in a county in the South Western part of England and died in 1536. He studied in Oxford and Cambridge. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1521. Had he remained a Catholic priest he would not have attempted to translate the Bible without official sanction. The only version of the Scripture tolerated in England was St. Jerome's Latin translation which dated back to the 4rth century. (not the common language of his day.) Tyndale was determined to make God's word accessible to all men. It is said that during a dispute with a prominent clergyman, Tyndale replied "If God spare my life, ere many years I will cause a boy that driveth the plow to know more of the Scriptures than thou dost."
He was convinced that the way to God was through His word and that scripture should be available even to common people. Tyndale's Old and New Testaments were the first English translation of the scriptures taken directly from the original Hebrew and Greek languages. He became the first man to translate anything from Hebrew into English. Tyndale carefully chose words which would clearly express the meaning of the original Biblical languages.
The commonly received doctrine of his time implied that men earn their salvation by good behavior and penance. He wrote that salvation is a gift of God. His views were not appreciated and, fleeing from King Henry VIII, he went to Germany where he met Martin Luther in 1525. Tyndale lived in exile, poverty and persecution. His books and tracts were smuggled into England wrapped in bales of wool or cloth, or sacks of flour by fellow "Loallards."
Eventually Tyndale was caught and arrested. Some of his "crimes" were that he maintained that faith alone justifies, forgiveness of sins and to embrace the mercy offered in the Gospel, is enough for salvation and he denied that there is any purgatory. He was imprisoned for a year. On Sept 6, 1536, he was strangled and burned at the stake. His last words were "Lord, open the King of England's eyes."

Suzanne

Psalm 111:10

Psalm 111:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding. To him belongs eternal praise. (NIV)

God and wisdom. The two go together.

As a child, I didn't like listening to my parents telling me what or what not to do. I didn't like anyone telling me what to do. I would wait until the last minute before they got home from work to do the dishes, feed/water the ducks and empty the dump. (my 3 daily D's). And I pretty much had run of the neighborhood and got into a few problems because of not listening. I fell into a ditch and remember struggling to breathe. I had been told to stay away from the area the city was digging because I could get hurt. Right! The other thing I remember was being told to stay away from the outfield in the park when the kids were playing baseball, I should sit in the stands. Well, I knew I'd be fine and stayed the outfield, near the woods, and watched the game. Then BAM! I got hit in the head with a baseball.

I've experienced many things that weren't good moves on my part. Lots of consequences. Finally, (how many years later?) I listen to those who have wisdom and actually follow through with what they say. I've learned I can't go through life with only me and my knowledge.

God is our parent. He gives us rules for our own good and it's our choice whether we listen and obey. Sometimes we choose or end up learning things the hard way and, hopefully, after suffering the consequences, we will realize that God knew all along what he was saying and maybe we should have listened to him. There is always next time, it's never to late to start listening to our awesome God.

Nancy

Psalm 149:4

Psalm 149:4 - And why? Because God delights in his people, festoons plain folk with salvation garlands! (The Message)

I read this and immediately pictured 'Mardi Gras'. Party goers with ornamental chains wrapped around their necks like garland. Taking time for praise, song, dance and parades to God for days and nights on end.

Then I read verse 4 in the NIV and it says - For the Lord takes delight in his people; he crowns the humble with salvation.

To me, the NIV sounds more subdued or less intense. Both versions say God takes delight in his people and wants us to praise Him. After all, Israel had just been granted salvation and was the earthly contingent of the armies of the King of heaven. And what an honor that was for them!

And what an honor it is for you and me, having been granted salvation and in His army, as well! That certainly is worth getting excited about and worth showing that excitement, all while remaining humble.

When we praise God, let's have the excitement of 'Mardi Gras' and sing Hallelujah, dance and strike up the band to make great music and sing from wherever we are. (The Message)

Nancy

The Hamster Diaries - The End

* Friends - Thank you for the emails and phone calls acknowledging our loss and offering condolences, that was really thoughtful of you and greatly appreciated. Today I can write about it. Yesterday the Strickland children experienced real loss for the first time. I was outside helping a friend unload some wood when Rachel came screaming out of the house. “Mom, Jubbies is dead!!”. What followed in the next 20 minutes was truly heartbreaking as Rachel tried to come to grips with the reality of it. Had I wanted to leave her side for a minute the rest of the evening, she wouldn’t have let me. Through the evening and well into the morning we all experienced to one degree or another, the heartache of losing this little animal friend with no warning. We skipped Rachel’s first soccer practice of the year and attended Kyle’s game together because we just needed family time. When we returned home we put some shavings and one of Jubs’ favorite things in the box with her and took her outside. Rachel picked the spot, Sonny dug the hole, Rachel placed her in and we all said some words about her. We left Sonny to finish and went back inside. Gavin fashioned twigs together to mark the spot. Kyle in his quiet way wondered why we had to bury her at all because then we’d never be able to see her and I explained just enough about the process so he could understand. Both the boys had some well-disguised tears. Nobody’s grief was as vocal as Rachel’s. We all understood her unique bond with Jubs and all knew she was entitled to whatever she was feeling, however she needed to express it. As she drifted off into a sobbing sleep she thanked me for “going through all this with me, Mom”. At the end of the day I was able to have a moment with each of the boys and acknowledge their loss as well. At the very end of the day I was able to grieve by myself. I kept reminding myself this was “only a hamster” but I couldn’t discount the effect this creature had on the entire family. Relationships were strengthened with a common “little one” to care for. She was loved by all. She was Rachel’s “best animal friend in the whole world” and as Gavin said, “She made me feel better when I held her.” Entire evenings revolved around her antics. Sometimes, after the kids were in bed Sonny and I would take her out and spend some 'quality time' with her. I found great enjoyment in rediscovering a long dormant passion for writing as The Hamster Diaries shared our pet owning experience with friends and family. I was looking forward to writing more but I think my initial assessment of Jub Jubs may have been correct; she was probably a lot older than Salesman led us to believe and it was just her time. At any rate, every one of us got from her what he needed, we're all a little richer because of it and with that I believe Jub Jubs achieved her full measure as a hamster. Thank you for enjoying her with us.

Love, Carol

Matthew 28:18-20

Matthew 28:18-20 Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: "God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, making them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I'll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of age." (The Message)

Last words leave an impression on our minds for a long time.

There are the last words of a family to someone who is dying or maybe to a friend who is moving away.

Usually when Matt goes to school, I have the last word. I say goodbye, I love you and have a good day or see you when you get home. I can only pray those words will help carry him on a positive note throughout the day.

Sometimes, however, the last word isn't good, they are not said in love, they are meant to hurt. Matt remembers a lot of last words in his past. He will never forget them as they weren't good words and they hurt. He remembers them very well, too well.

That day when Jesus was on the mountain with the disciples, his last words were to go out and witness and baptize and obey what he commanded. Some of the disciples were ok with that and some were unsure of taking that risk, but Jesus reassured them he would be with them every step of the way.

Can I obey and go out and witness like they were charged to do? Or am I afraid and maybe hold back, not sure like some of them? Can I remember those last words Christ? Can I remember he will be with me until the end?

With those last words of promising to be with me always, always, always, I pray they will stick in my mind and carry me though each day.

Nancy

Genesis 2:3

Genesis 2:3 - On the seventh day he rested from all his work. (The Message)

In 1882, a cabinet maker introduced his idea for a new holiday to pay tribute to American Industry. Twelve years later, President Cleveland signed a bill into law designating the first Monday in September as 'Labor Day' as a tribute to workers. For many, that is a day off with cookouts and the last hurrah for summer.

When God finished creating Heaven and Earth, he designated a day to rest called 'Sabbath'. A day of tribute to our Maker. What do we do on that day?

My cousin, Jeff, is a Lt on the Concord Fire Dept.and every year hosts a pig roast (whole pig and pit) at his home in Belmont. Firefighters and their families from Concord and Belmont come to enjoy a day of family fun and camaraderie. Sometimes the Belmont Dept has a truck and rescue sitting in Jeff's yard because the guys might get an emergency call. This get together is important to them, so they bring the station with them. My family and the one or two relatives I have are also invited. There are tractor rides, games for the kids, horseshoes and tons of food.

Jeff does this because he wants not to only have fun with his buddies and their families, but also as a way thank you them for their commitment to service. For him, this is a Labor Day tradition.

Just as Jeff has his Labor Day traditions, we must establish a Sabbath Day tradition. Take the day to rest, thank God for your family and focus on what God has done. I thank God for our fire fighters and for their families who support them.

Nancy