PUZZLING

 

 

 

Our five year old grandson ran to the cabinet that held games and puzzles.  He came out with a colorful 500 piece jigsaw puzzle and dumped it in the middle of the living room floor.  I had purchased the puzzle some time ago thinking that our older grands might enjoy putting the puzzle together during some weekend trip to our house.  But our youngest grand really loves puzzles.  He started right away putting together colorful pieces from the middle of the puzzle.  Our granddaughter joined in and of course I couldn't resist a good puzzle!  But wait...you gotta start with the frame first right?  That's the way I've always done it.  I started explaining that we needed to start with the pieces with the straight edges.  Not heeding my explanation, they continued.  And I kept searching for frame pieces. My way isn't always the only or right way. 

It seemed like just a few minutes later, mom and dad told them it was time to go.  Our grandson jumped up and said, "Granna...you finish it."  So we picked up the pieces and moved them to the dining room table.  It wasn't long before I was in working the puzzle on my own...as any dutiful Granna would do.   

As I worked, I began to think of the puzzling things of life.  

The pieces weren't perfectly interlocking so it was a little more difficult than I thought it might be.  There were pieces that seemed to fit, but didn't match up correctly.   Surely there's been a time when you felt like you didn't fit in...I know I have.  Many times.  It's not comfortable.  But then there's times when you're with "forever" friends and things just fit together perfectly...even if you haven't talked to them in months. Then there are also those people who make you feel completely comfortable from the first time you meet.  So wonderful!

 

When the puzzle was nearly completed, I was left with the pieces that our grandson had started with in the first place.  It seemed a hard place to start to me.  There are times in our lives when out of the blue, things fall to pieces.  Any number of things that just rip the rug out from under you before you knew what happened.  Things like the loss of a child or loved one, illnesses, marital difficulties, storms that destroy your home, or losing your job.  It's not just these times when we need the Lord.  In the easier times, we need to work on strength training -- building our faith to trust in Him so that when needed, we can stand under the strain of harder times.  It's also in those times that we rely on the Lord to guide us in just the right way to help others in the midst their storms.  The Lord is faithful and we can depend on Him to put the pieces back together.  He just asks us to trust Him.

We're also individual pieces that form the Lord's church.  Someone in Bible class mentioned that we're all pieces of clay in the Potter's hand.  Some are meant to be a plate, a bowl or maybe a vase but all are serviceable pieces.  Even a broken piece of pottery can give light when a candle is placed inside.  

Aren't we all broken in some way...made perfect by the blood of the Lamb.  We're parts of a puzzle -- perfectly pieced together to make one beautiful picture.  

 

Love till next time,                                          Lanna 

For your consideration:  Philippians 2:1-8 and I Corinthians 12:12-26. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

True or Fake?

           True or Fake?

In a world of responsible advertising versus false advertising,  reporting the news without prejudice and fake news...you have to stay on your toes...checking and verifying to make sure you're not scammed or misled.  

Several years ago, I was leaving from a visit with my mother  in assisted living.  Walking to my car, I saw something shiny and stopped to see what it was. Stooping to pick it up, it appeared to be a rather large diamond.  I looked around and thought, "Okay, do I walk into the office and ask if anyone lost a diamond?"  I imagined every nurse and little retiree would break their neck to get to the office to claim the gem.  So I held onto it trying to think how to best handle the situation.  Thinking that there was no real way to find the owner, I wondered if it was real.  Through the internet, I searched, 'How to tell a fake from a real diamond'.  To my surprise it passed all the tests.  My husband had a friend who was a novice jeweler.  He had a loupe for inspecting gems.  After work one evening, we went to see the friend and he said the thought it was real!  When we told our son that the guy said it was real, he said, "Then you should have sold it to him too...cause that's not real!"  Well I laughed but still wished it wasn't a fake.  Next, I took the stone to a reputable jeweler who confirmed by weighing that it was indeed a fake.  It took a person who had studied diamonds to tell that it was the real deal.

A year ago, my husband and I moved to east Texas to be near our kids and our grands.  It's been a good move.  Nothing better than being closer to those you love.  Besides our family, it's been fun to experience the trees and beautiful plant life here.  Spring has been especially beautiful...blooming plants like dogwoods, azaleas, camellias, gardenias and of course Texas wild flowers.  Most of the spring time flowers and flowering trees have all bloomed and shed their flowers.  But...technically, it's still spring and won't be summer until June 20th and I'm hanging on to that!  It may be really humid and in the low 90's but it's still spring! In my head I hear the mantra..."It's still spring...it's still spring...it's still spring!!" 

Just before things started budding out, my husband and I were deciding on what needed to be pruned.  We found a couple of places where wisteria was growing.  There wasn't a lot of wisteria near our former home, but what I saw was really beautiful --- as long as it was blooming ---after that...not so much.   The problem with the wisteria on our place was that the vines from prior years had wrapped around three trees in one place and around some crepe myrtles in another.  We couldn't decide...should we cut it or leave it. We would kinda like to see what it looked like while it was blooming.  While trying to decide, we made two trips to northeast Texas to see family.  Along the way, we saw wisteria blooming wild everywhere!  Although it was really very beautiful, it looked as if they were choking out the other trees around them. 

                        

Because of what we saw, we decided to cut it out to save our trees.  The vines were a tangled mess!  We worked two days trying to clean it out.  The stump of the wisteria by the three trees was as big around as a football! 

          

So all this got me thinking about the The True Vine, our Lord and savior, Jesus Christ.  Read our Lord's description in John 15:1-12.  Using the metaphor of a grapevine, Jesus states He is the true vine and we are the branches.  We're a part of Him...a part of His family.  We've been grafted into the vine through His promise!  Did you know that the grafted part of the grapevine is the very strongest point? 

 

 In contrast, look at wisteria.  It's a vine.  Not a grapevine but a vine nonetheless...an imitation. It's kind of amazing how the cascading blooms resemble that of a bunch of grapes.   Jesus gave a warning to His followers in Luke 21 starting in verse 5 as he was speaking of the destruction of Jerusalem.  He said, "Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am he' and 'the time is near'. Do not follow them."  Don't be fooled!  "...for even satan masquerades as an angel of light."  II Corinthians 11:14.   

 

Even though it may look like the real thing, you've got to test it!  II Timothy 2:14-19.

 

 It's noted that wild grapevines also climb trees but they only do so to reach sunlight.  They do not kill trees.  Satan comes to kill and destroy--just like wisteria. And following him in a life of sin leads to death but a life in Christ leads to life everlasting. 

 

There's a comforting point found in Romans 8 and starting with verse 31.  It asks, "If God is for us, who can be against us?"  Then reading further, it says, "...we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord."  Isn't that awesome!?!   

So in conclusion, don't be fooled!  I John 4:1-18

     1. Test the spirits to see if they're from God. 

                    2.  The one who lives in us is greater                              than he who is in the world. 

          3.  Love one another for love comes from God.                God is love.

          4.  God loved us and sent his Son as an                           atoning sacrifice for our sins.

          5.  Acknowledge that Jesus is the Son of God.

      

 Love till next time,

           Lanna 

For your consideration:  Galatians 3:26-27, Galatians 4:6-7, John 17:6-26, John 10:10

             

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hysterical or Historical?

 

Several years ago, my younger brother told a story from the pulpit that I've never forgotten. Wanting to use it for this article, I sent him a text asking for permission to use it and asking if I had the story straight. I actually thought the story was just one used for application purposes... but no... this actually transpired between my brother and a friend. My brother's friend told him that every time he and his wife got into an argument, his wife got historical.  And my brother said, "You mean hysterical?". His friend answered, "No! She gets historical! She brings up everything I've ever done wrong since we've been married!" It was funny when he told the story, but I had to look at myself and wonder if I had ever been hysterically historical. It did teach me to try to restrain myself.  

So historically speaking, I love it. I love history. I love antiques. I love the stories behind the antiques. We have traveled to our nation's capital on a couple of occasions. During those trips, we've seen where our country got it's beginnings... where people fought and died for our freedoms. And as I've told you before, we've been to Israel and Jordan. We've seen the locations of the beginnings of our faith and freedoms in Christ.

Lately, it seems to me that a lot of people are turning away from faith in God.  And that's disturbing to me.  What do people do who have no faith?  I don't get it.

So let's look at history.  How do you know about William the Conqueror, William Wallace, Mary, Queen of Scots, Henry the Eighth, George Washington and so many other historical figures?  We don't have photographs of these people.  There certainly aren't any videos of what happened in history during these times.  Did you know that even though we do have pictures and video records of what happened during the Holocaust -- there are those who deny it ever happened?

So how do we know about historical people in the past? Someone wrote it down. It's as simple as that... and that's what we have in the New Testament... history. Christianity exists because of what happened to the historical Jesus.  Luke is the author of the historical accounts of Jesus and the beginnings of the church in the books of Luke and Acts. He addresses both New Testament books to "most excellent Theophilus".  Theophilus is said to have been an official in the Roman empire. Read Luke 1:1-4 and Acts 1. It's like he was writing: "Here's what happened Theo." That's the way it's written... this happened and then that happened. I call it "Eye Witness News".  

John notes his testimonial regarding the crucifixion of Jesus in John 19:35:

"The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true.  He knows that he tells the truth and he testifies so that you also may believe." 

Then at the end of John's book, he writes:

"Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples which are not recorded in this book.  But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name."  John 20:30-31.

 There are those who would argue the validity of the New Testament. Well... there are several secular historians of the time who validate the existence of Jesus and Christians. The most famous Roman historian, Cornelius Tacitus, tells that the Great Fire during Nero's reign was incorrectly blamed on Christians. Then you are probably also aware of the writings of Flavius Josephus. He wrote:

"And there arose about this time Jesus, a wise man, if indeed we should call him a man; for He was a doer of marvelous deeds, a teacher of men who receive the truth with pleasure.  He won over many Jews and also some Greeks.  This man was the Messiah.  And when Pilate had condemned Him to the cross at the instigation of our own leaders, those who had loved Him from the first did not cease.  For He appeared to them on the third day alive again, as the holy prophets had predicted and said many other wonderful things about him.  And even now the race of Christians, so named after him, has not yet died out."  (Antiquities, 18, 3.3)

Wow! How about that!!  Of all the historical happenings and writings of the past, none of them contradict the New Testament.  

And I have to remind you of something that happened after the day of Pentecost. In Acts, chapter 3, starting in verse 1, we read about Peter and John as they were entering the temple courts.  They encountered a lame man whom Peter healed in the name of Jesus. After the miracle, Peter began preaching about our Lord and gave them a history lesson. The high priest ordered that Peter and John be put in jail. The next day, they were brought before the high priest and elders. Filled with the Holy Spirit, Peter gave them an earful! (Acts 4:5-14) They noted that the lame man was healed through the name of Jesus Christ--the man they crucified but was raised to life by the power of God.  They received a holy tongue lashing! The Sanhedrin court then met away from the apostles and discussed what they should do with these men. They couldn't deny the miracle of the lame man. So they ordered that they not speak or teach in the name of Jesus again. But Peter and John told them, "Which is right in God's eyes: to listen to you, or to him? You be the judges! As for us, we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard." (Acts 4:19-20) After further threats not to speak of Jesus, they let them go.  

Then later, reading beginning with Acts 5:12, the apostles were healing sicknesses of all sorts at Soloman's Colonnade--which was inside the palace gates. The high priest and all the Sadducees were filled with jealousy. They arrested the apostles and put them in a public jail with a guard at the gate. During the night, an angel opened the jail doors and brought them out. The angel instructed them to go back to the temple courts and tell about a new life in Jesus. When the high priest arrived, they called together the full assembly of the elders and sent officers to get the apostles. When the officers got to the jail, they found gate locked and the guard still at the door, but the apostles weren't there. The officers went back and reported that they were missing. Then someone came in and reported that they were in the temple courts teaching! The captain with his guards went out and brought the apostles in to appear before the Sanhedrin.

"We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name. Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are determined to make us guilty of this man's blood."  Once again Peter and the apostles answered that they must obey God rather than men.  They went on to further place blame where blame was due.  Needless to say, the high priest and the court were furious and wanted to put the apostles to death.  But a Pharisee named Gamaliel who was a teacher of the law stood up and ordered that the apostles be put outside for a little while.  He addressed the court and reminded them of two different men who rose up with a great number of followers -- but after both men were killed, the followers fell away and were scattered.  He suggested that the apostles be left alone -- because if the Christian movement was of human origin, it would fail -- but if it was from God, they would only find themselves fighting against God.  BAM!  And here we are today.  Not wise to try to fight against the Lord Almighty!

 All scripture is inspired -- or God breathed. (II Timothy 3:14-17).  No fairy tales here.  Just the facts.

Please get out your bible and read the book of Acts.  It reads like a novel to me. Search out the truth for yourself and use your knowledge of historical facts to teach and inspire others...leading them to a powerful faith in our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  You'll be hysterically historical for Him.  And that's a good thing.

Love till next time,

Lanna

For your consideration:  Luke 1:1-4; Acts 1:1-2, Acts chapters 3-5.   John 19:35 & 20:30-31;  II Timothy 3:14-17

 

 

   

 

  

  

 

 

 

 

 

The Chair

"Well excuse me but I think you've got my chair.  No that one's not taken, I don't care if you sit here, I'll be glad to share..."  

If you're a George Strait fan like me, you know that's the opening line to his hit song, "The Chair".  It's said it was written in 20 minutes by Hank Cochran and Dean Dillon.  Smiling, I remember going to my first and what we thought was possibly his last concert at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo on March 17, 2019. I heard that very song and so many of his hit songs live!  Our daughter and daughter-in-law cooked up this deal where they would both be online when the tickets went on sale.  Our daughter was going to buy tickets for my husband and myself and our daughter-in-law was going to buy tickets for her parents and we would go to the concert together.  The only problem was, our daughter was able to get tickets but it sold out so quickly that our daughter-in-law was unable to get a set.  My husband wasn't thrilled about the idea of the crowd so I asked our daughter-in-law's mother to go with me. We had a ball!  

There we were singing our hearts out and beaming with the excitement of middle schoolers.  The music was so loud that we couldn't hear ourselves sing.  But I can tell you that even as loud as it was, my phone holds recorded proof that I can't sing "The Chair'' nearly as well as I thought I could.  (Among one of cell phone's useful tools...it's also an ego buster!)  We had a great time!

It's funny what you remember as you get older.  I don't remember going many places as a family when I was a young girl.  On one occasion, I remember we went to a county fair.  Dad went off with my older sister and brother and mom and I went to play bingo.  We hadn't been there long when "BINGO" mom had won!  WOW!  I never dreamed she would actually win!  There were all sorts of prizes in the center of the bingo play area...sparkly lamps, watches, other jewelry...wide-eyed and excited I wanted to help mom choose which item of bling that would come home with us!  She scanned the items..."Mom, look at that!" or "How about that!?!"  After examining the prizes, she chose...a plain, unstained, wooden folding chair.  Wait...what?  That?  Why?!  She chose the chair because her feet hurt and she wanted a place to sit -- that was valuable to her.  Looking back, I'm sure that's why she chose Bingo -- so she could sit.  I had no idea.

Fast forward many years later, I was trying to think of something special for mom for Mother's Day.  Someone said she and her mother were going for pedicures.  What a great idea! I thought mom would enjoy some pampering of her feet.  I made the appointment for the Saturday before Mother's Day and called mom to surprise her with news of our up coming mom-daughter date.  When I told her, instead of the expected excitement, there was a moment of silence and then she said flatly, "No, I don't want that."  Oh.  "Okay...well I'll just cancel the appointment and figure out something else", I answered.  She said, "I just don't want anyone touching my feet."  

On the evening before the trial and subsequent crucifixion of Jesus, he shared the Passover meal with His disciples.  There were miracles in the preparation for the meal.  Jesus sent Peter and John into Jerusalem.  Upon entering the city, they were to look for a man carrying a pitcher of water.  So what's so unusual about that?  Women were the ones who carried water! When they found the man with the pitcher and they were to say, "The teacher asks where is the guest room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?"  With that, the man takes them to a large upstairs room that is already set up for them to prepare the Passover meal. (Luke 22:7-14)  So at some point during the evening, Jesus takes another opportunity for a teaching moment...for His time with them is now very short.  He removed his outer robe, took a basin of water and began to wash His disciples' feet -- a task reserved only for slaves to perform.  Jesus was trying to teach them how to lead as a servant with humility --- they just had no idea.  Poor Peter, he was as skilled at chewing leather as I am!  He said, "No! You will never ever wash my feet!" Jesus said, "You don't understand now what I am doing, but some day you will." (John 13:7)  After Jesus finished washing the disciples' feet, he sat back down and tried to further explain the idea of servanthood.  Did they get it?  They should have -- they had seen our Lord perform so many, many miracles in service to others with humility.  That same evening, they argued for a second time about who among them would be the greatest!  Our Lord was patient with them-- promising a "Helper"-- the Holy Spirit would be coming.  They just really didn't get it until later when they received the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost.  They had no idea.

Paul explains it well in Philippians 2:1-11...saying that Christ took on the human form of a slave in full submission and obedience to God the Father.  He further encourages us in verses 12 through 18 to show the manifestation of our salvation in faithful service to God with joy!  

All those years seeing mom mess with the corns and callouses on her feet -- I didn't get it.  I had no idea her feet hurt so badly.  I should have paid attention.  Ok so what's the point?   We're all busy...no matter the time of year.  But we need to pray that the Lord helps us see the needs of others no matter how busy we are...to serve others with quiet humility.  We are the Lord's ambassadors...His conduit connecting souls to Him.

So in George's ballad, the guy used the chair as a pick up line...not very honorable but it was effective.  Mom used what I saw as the ugly chair prize as sweet relief...not pretty but effective.  Lord, please allow your Holy Spirit to open our eyes to those who need us.  And please help us to act on the "Chair" moments that come our way effectively and to Your glory.   

Love till next time,

Lanna

For your consideration:  Luke 22:7-29, John 13:1-17 and Phil. 2:1-18.  

Remembering

Well here it is the last day of January.  How are those New Year's resolutions holding for you?  My husband's diet is still going well and is down several pounds.  I didn't set any resolutions this year...well I do have that perpetual one about keeping my mouth shut...but that's an ongoing struggle.  Someone once said -- "The Lord gave us one mouth and two ears to do twice as much listening."  I just keep trying.  I also always seem to be on a perpetual diet as well...so no sense in setting a new resolution that I'm bound to break.  

January 1st is a lot of things to a lot of people.  A time to make resolutions -- things like dieting, exercising, or reading your bible every day.  It's a time to start over...put away the things of the year gone by and get a fresh start.  But January 1st has an extra special meaning for me...it's my birthday.  Every year on my birthday I heard the same stories from my mom and dad.  Mom would say, "The doctor said I'd never carry you past Thanksgiving."  And she told the hospital staff after delivery, "Don't let that baby roll off that table!"  (I was a large, month old baby by the time I was born.)  And dad would say, "If your mother had just taken that caster oil when I asked her...you would have been born earlier and been a tax deduction for the year before!"  (Have you ever tasted caster oil?  It's really nasty!  I don't blame her for not taking it!)  I can still hear their voices in my mind.  Happy memories.

So this year when my sister called to wish me a happy birthday, she reminded me of a rather unforgettable milestone birthday...my 50th.

When she turned 50, I was so upset.  I couldn't believe my sister was 50 years old...I was only 5 short years behind her. I called to wish her a happy birthday and almost sobbing I said, "I can't believe you're 50!"  To which she replied, "What are YOU crying for?!  It's MY birthday!"  Then she said, "Just you wait..."  

And after 5 years, she didn't forget her veiled promise.

Fast forward 5 years and she called to say, "What's the significance of November 12th?"  And I answered, "um...I don't know...what?"  She said, "You'll find out..." and hung up.  Huh?  I thought about it for a few minutes and then shrugged it off and forgot about it.  On November 12th, I received a birthday card from my sister.  On the next day, I received another card...and another on the day after that...and another and another!  By the time my birthday finally arrived, she had sent 50 cards -- one every day for 50 days!  Sometimes I would get two cards in the mail because of the weekends!  I was never so glad for my birthday to arrive so I could get relief from the constant reminders that I was turning 50 years old!!  BAH!!

Now, if I ever mention something about getting older, my sister asks, "Are you complaining?"  And quickly I respond, "No no...I'm not complaining!"  It was a funny, unforgettable time...but I don't want to go through that again!

Women seem to have a good memory...of good things and bad.  I sure wish I could forget some of the bad things in life but I guess it's God's way of teaching us and trying to give us wisdom.  

Three days after Jesus' crucifixion, a group of women were on their way to His tomb with spices they had prepared for his body.  As they walked, they wondered how in the world they were going to move the stone away from the door.  Upon arrival to the tomb to their surprise, the stone had been moved and the body of our Savior was gone!  The Word tells us that two men dressed in clothing as bright as lightning met them there.  They said, "Why are you looking for the living among the dead?  Don't you remember that Jesus told you that he would be killed but he would rise on the third day?"  AND THEY REMEMBERED!  They were so excited that they ran back to the disciples and told them everything!  Now during the first century, the testimony of women was not considered credible.  Unbelievable right?!  And so the disciples didn't believe them! They didn't remember that Jesus had told them on three different occasions that this would happen.  In fact, the first time Jesus told them what was going to happen, Peter rebuked our Savior for suggesting such a thing!  Poor Peter...he needed that "keep your mouth shut" resolution because Jesus shot right back and said, "Get behind me Satan..."  No one dared ask Him about it when Jesus spoke of it again.  I'm thinking that Peter must have wondered if the women were telling the truth because he and John (probably John) ran to see for themselves. 

I think the disciples had a preconceived idea of Jesus' mission.  They thought He would be an earthly king like David.  They were fixated on the idea of sitting on His right or His left!  "Me, a fisherman...or me, a tax collector...sitting in the King's court!"  They just didn't get it.  They didn't soak up every word that Jesus spoke.  There were a lot of things they didn't get.  The Holy Spirit made all the pieces fall into place for them.  They finally understood our Savior and their mission...our mission.

So I've said all this to say, remember.  Write things down to help you remember.  Commit scripture to memory.  Do twice as much listening...listening to others and listening to what the Lord is trying to teach.  In this way, we can be a brighter light and more effective in our walk...glorifying our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Love till next time, 

Lanna

For your consideration:  Psalms 90:12,  Luke 24:6-12,  

1st prediction - Matt. 16:21-28, Mark 8:31-33, Luke 9:22-27

2nd prediction - Matt. 17:22-23, Mark 9:30-32, Luke 9:43-45

3rd prediction - Matt. 20:17-19, Mark 10:32-34, Luke 18:31-34

Observations of a Nut

The temperatures in north central Texas are not necessarily indicative of the season.  The highs could be in the 80's in October and November...not what you'd think of fall weather.  However...when you see the trunks of the pecan trees at the Whittle house wrapped with sheet metal, you know that fall is upon us!  

As I have probably told you before, the sheet metal keeps pesky squirrels and raccoons from climbing our trees and stealing the pecans!  When the trees form new fruit, the pecan is covered by a thick, bright green shuck.  I guess it's kinda like an incubator to protect the fruit until it's ripe...like corn is covered by a shuck.  (I never knew how pecans grew...I just knew they came from a tree.)  My husband came in the other day and announced that some of the shucks were beginning to break open.  That means that the pecans were ripening and harvest time was near.  As the pecans continue to ripen, the shucks begin to dry, break open and pull away from the nut allowing it to fall to the ground.  So what my husband was getting at when he came in with his announcement was...I need you to come help me get the new pecans out of the smaller, young trees before they fell.

We went out and realized that crows had already stripped two young trees of nearly all their fruit.  Time was of the essence.

My husband set up an eight foot ladder to reach the nuts up in the first tree while I pulled the ones that were low enough for me to reach while standing on the ground.  It wasn't long before my husband got down off the ladder and started to sneeze.  He sneezed twice...then he sneezed again and again and again!  He seemed to sneeze non-stop!  I don't think I had ever seen anyone sneeze so many times in a row.  He finally stopped long enough to say, "I'm allergic to pecan trees."  Now my husband loves pecan trees and he's planted as many trees as our yard would hold...so I'm thinking, "What?!"  And I said, "What do you mean you're allergic to pecan trees?!" He said, "Don't you remember when I had the allergy testing done -- they said I was allergic to pecan trees."  To which I replied, "Nooo...I don't remember that!  So why did you plant so many pecan trees if you were allergic to them?"  "Well I'm not allergic to pecans, just the trees...I love pecans!"  

Soooo taking a deep breath, I climbed up on the ladder to pull the pecans...which as it ended up, I really didn't mind.  It was really kinda fun...except...I really hate crawly things!  I don't like bugs!  I don't like spiders or frogs or lizards or snakes -- all the things you find more of in the country.  I was raised in town where there weren't many bugs...or spiders...or lizards...or frogs...or snakes.  We've lived in the country for quite a long time so you'd think I'd be used to it but being up in a tree with bugs and spiders all around just made me a bit uncomfortable...and itchy.    

As quickly as I could work, I pulled the ripening pecans.  Those bright green shucks blended into the green leaves as a chameleon blends into it's surroundings.  I could see them while on the ground and would move the ladder to where I thought was just the right location...only to climb the ladder and not be able to see the fruit that was 6 inches from my face.  So I would get down off the ladder and look up to see what I was missing.  Again I climbed the ladder but this time, not taking my eyes off the intended goal.  At times, my husband could see fruit from the ground and direct my hand to fruit that I could not see.  It was remarkable how the fruit could be hidden in plain sight.   

We methodically moved from tree to tree over a couple of days and claimed the ripening pecans.  At the end of each day, we would sit in the shade and peel away the shucks from the beautiful new fruit.  Some of the shucks would pop right off and some would have to be cut off.  My husband had the pocket knife, so I popped off all the easy ones and passed the stubborn ones over to him.  Now we were wearing rubber gloves but my husband quickly tore through the fingers of his.  The oil from those shucks turned his fingers the blackest black you can imagine.  It was gross...and it would not wash off!  We tried everything...even fingernail polish remover!  Nothing took it off.  I purposely diverted my eyes from having to look at such a disgusting sight.  

So please follow me on my observations...

--The Shucks.  They blend in so well, that it's hard to see them...like a chameleon blends in to it's surroundings.  Most of the time, I'm like a Chatty Cathy...yakity, yak, yak, yak.  But there are other times, I just want to be still and quiet.  I just want to waft into worship services, slide into my seat and blend right in like a chameleon -- almost unseen.  I just want to quietly worship my Lord and slip back out the doors.  But many times the Lord has other plans for me.  Another chameleon, not wanting to be seen, comes wafting in and the Lord seems to lead them to sit right by me!  So even though I just want to sit and be quiet, I'm led to reach out to the nearby fellow chameleon.  The Lord is always at work in our lives...we are His conduit connecting Him to others.  

The other thing about the shucks is that they dry up to allow the pecan to come through.  To me, that represents putting off our old, sinful self and becoming a new creature in Christ.  Just as Christ died on the cross, was buried and then raised from the dead...we too die to our old lives when we are buried in baptism and rise to walk a new life in Christ.  Romans 6:3-11.  I love it!

--The Spiders and Bugs.  Ok...so there I was on the tippy top of an eight foot ladder in the middle of a beautiful bright green pecan tree and there were.spiders.and.bugs.everywhere.  Did I mention that I really hate spiders and bugs?!  So I'm flicking off bugs and going cross eyed as tiny spiders drop down from webs in my hair!!  Since I hate spiders and bugs so much, I see them as evil.  The beautiful tree -- good -- vs the evil nasty creatures.   I know that since the beginning of time, there has been good vs evil.  But it seems to me, in my life time, the evil in this world has never been so blatantly visible.  So it is important for us to make every effort to reflect Christ in all that we do.  Ephesians 5:8-17.

--The Goal.  It was important to not take my eyes off the prize.  Getting distracted by moving the ladder, by spiders, bugs and the like, I would miss the aim of my mission.  Our strength comes from keeping our  eyes and the eyes of our heart on our Lord.  Trouble comes when our sight is diverted.  We can see things in our peripheral vision but our only focus should be on our ever present Lord and Savior.  Philippians 3:7-14;  Hebrews 11:1 - 12:3;  Psalms 25:15.  

-- Black Stain.  Those black fingers of my husband were disgusting...just like sin.  I couldn't stand to look at them.  It's just like sin -- you can't bear to turn your eyes to look at it.  I think of sin as being black.  In my mind, I can't forget the sin in my life. I'm thankful that while I'm walking in the Lord's light, the blood of Christ continually cleanses my sin like no detergent ever invented.  I John 1:5-10.

So the harvest this year has been a pretty good one...with lessons learned by this nut along the way.

Love till next time, 

Lanna

For your consideration:  Romans 8  

 

Light of the World

 

Two weeks before Thanksgiving, I drove over to my daughter's house for a short visit.  As I pulled up, I noticed that their neighbor across the street already had Christmas decorations in their yard!  I thought to myself that they must have been hanging around Hobby Lobby too long...they've had Christmas decorations out since June.  Perhaps her neighbors just couldn't wait any longer -- or maybe they were just stir crazy due to covid.  Who knows...it just seemed so early to me.  I still had a turkey to roast. 

Walking up to the house I knocked and the door opened with my three year old granddaughter beaming with excitement like I've never seen before!  "Gragga!" (She can't say Granna yet) "Gragga!  It's Christmas time!!"  And she jumped out the door pointing to the house across the street.  Puzzled, I looked at my daughter and she said, "Yes, we've already been out for a drive looking at Christmas lights.  You'd be surprised how many people have them up already."  Huh?!  But it's not even Thanksgiving yet!

Now I love Christmas lights too!  I've read that Germans started the tradition of Christmas trees and candles to light them.  The evergreen trees symbolized renewal and a continuance of life (a Christian principle) and the candles represented Christ, the Light of the world! I wonder how many people know that today?  

I just love lights period...I've loved them since I was very young.  It seems to me that when I was younger, lights were flashier and more colorful.  There used to be more neon lights...for hotels, restaurants, shoe stores, stores of all kinds.  The arm of a cowboy would magically wave in lights.  As a young teenager, I used to sit in the dark at my grandparent's kitchen table and look out at the highway lights a half mile away.  The Holiday Inn sign was my favorite with it's running yellow lights.  But the whole highway was aglow with businesses and traffic lighting the darkness.  Light invades the darkness but darkness can never overcome the Light...ever.  All lights represent Christ to me. 

Two thousand years ago, the Light of the world came to earth as our Savior to shatter the darkness so that we didn't have to live in it any longer.  It's this time of year when Christians around the world recognize His earthly arrival in the little town of Bethlehem.  In the fall of 2017, my husband and I visited that very city.  

A trip to Israel was on my husband's bucket list...not mine.  My faith was not dependent on seeing the Holy Lands.  I did not want to go.  I was scared to go.  But let me tell you friends, we saw some amazing sights.  Places and things I'll never forget.  I even read the scriptures with a different set of eyes now.  

We had a wonderful guide named Mike Rogoff.  He wrote the section on Jerusalem for Fodor's Travel Essential Israel.  He knew scripture and he brought it to life as we toured.  

Mike shared that there were caves in the hillsides around Bethlehem that were used as stables.  Since the second century, tradition holds that Jesus was born in one such cave.  Since Bethlehem was only a short distance from Jerusalem, the caves were used as birthing stables for sacrificial lambs to be offered in the temple.  They wrapped the legs of the newborn lambs with strips of cloth to keep them from falling and cutting themselves against the rocks.  They had to be spotless and without blemish.  I personally don't believe it was a coincidence that there was no room at the inn for this precious expectant mother.  

God knew exactly what He was doing.  I believe that Jesus, our sacrificial lamb, was precisely in the place where he was supposed to be born -- a stable where other sacrificial lambs were born.  His mother Mary wrapped him in strips of cloth that would have been readily available in such a place.  (Luke 2:7, Lev 4:32 and  I Peter 1:17-25)

In this picture, our guide, Mike, is standing beside a feeding trough or manger.  (It was taken at Megiddo and dated back to the 9th century -- the time of King Ahab!) Although the end is broken off, it was sized for feeding donkeys and horses.  Just such a manger, but a smaller version, would have been used to feed sheep -- the perfect size in which to lay the baby Jesus!   Cool, huh?!  

Jesus came to earth to live as we live.  He gets it.  He was a son, a brother, a teacher, a healer...  He was tempted, felt hunger, loneliness, betrayal, pain and ultimately death.  But He overcame death to live for you and me that we might have His light and life through eternity.  What kind of love is that?  Only the love of a Savior.  

Love till next time, 

Lanna           

For your consideration:  Luke 1:26 through Luke 2:21, Isaiah 7:14, Isaiah 9:6-7

John 1:1-14, John 8:12, John 12:46, Matt. 5:14-16 and I John 1:5-7