Our Desires – His Ordaining

Posted on July 18, 2012 by jroesler728

There is an old hymn that goes something like this: “Hast thou not seen?  All thy desires have been granted in what He ordeigneth.”

I am delighted when I am given insight to see that the awkward place I find myself in at any given time can be traced to a desire I have guarded in my heart.

Faith through aging eyes enables gazing in the rear view mirror. It is often in that mirror that God’s knowing me intimately and planning for me intricately is revealed.

I have seen God’s faithfulness expressed in His plan for my life today. May it strengthen my faith in the dimly lit path of tomorrow knowing that the Hand that has crafted the past will not grow weary.

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God Blesses Our Messes

Posted on July 16, 2012 by jroesler728

I woke up this morning to find a big puddle of shampoo on the bathroom counter. I smiled. I smiled because my 3-year-old granddaughter had done it. It was not work to wipe it up because I love her.

This is how God is looking at our mess (whatever mess you would like to run from, explain away or simply deny). He loves us so much that He cleans it up with joy because He knows we are trying to be helpful and are not aware that a bottle top needs to be closed before the whole thing is laid on it’s side.

As I look at my life with faith through aging eyes, I stand amazed at the grace of God that has made a space for me to join Him in His work. I am reminded of the words from a treasured mentor, “God will bless our mess, He has nothing else to work with!”

 

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Finding a New Rhythm

Posted on July 13, 2012 by jroesler728

Life has a way of interrupting a familiar rhythm and demanding an accommodation to a new beat.

It happens with piano lessons, too. Just as you get comfortable with the assigned music there is a numerical sign that lets you know that the next measure will have a new rhythm.

In life it happens with a death, the loss of a job, the birth of a child, a broken relationship or the burning of a house.

I am finding myself seeking to adapt to a new rhythm. I didn’t choose this change but since it has happened I am looking for ways to hang it in the best possible light. I am asking myself what is important to do everyday, who do I want in my inner circle of relationships, would someone watching my life know what I value?

I’ve been reading Mark searching for the rhythm Jesus modeled. He deliberately sought solitude, time with His Father, time with His friends, responded with compassion to being interrupted by a sick person and set some boundaries for the consumption of crowds. He heard a beat that governed His life. May we listen to this beat and respond. Then, we too, can say it is finished when there is still much to do.

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A Place Pepared

Posted on July 11, 2012 by jroesler728

For those of us who have known the gospel since childhood, the words of Jesus, “I go to prepare a place for you” are so familiar that we are at risk of missing the amazing grace they display. I am living in a parable that prompts me to reflect on these words of Jesus.

My parable, a real life story happening for me today, finds me watching my friend design her home. I am not surprised by her making her living room into a theater with red velvet curtains covering one wall. I am not surprised that helping her pets feel at home drives the arrangement of rooms.

What brings tears to my eyes is her plans for the guest room, which has formerly been known as the master bedroom. She has planned it and everything in it especially for me. She is the only one who would know the little things that will make it feel like mine.

Well, maybe she isn’t the only one. Maybe she is representing the One Who knows, cares and is preparing a place for me.

Let’s thank God today for the friends, whose stories make God and eternity easier to grasp.

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Moving

Posted on July 9, 2012 by jroesler728

There is something exciting about moving to a new house. Every circumstance is different, of course, but if your old house burned down it means you get to buy a new toothbrush and a new couch, as well as everything in-between.

If you are an artist, which I am not, it means going to a furniture store and picturing how everything will look in the new house. If you feel responsible for the practical, which I do, you check in regularly with your real estate broker, compare the amount in the insurance checks with the amount needed for closing, and think about what else might go wrong.

There is something distressing about moving to a new house. You find things are dirty that you thought would have been clean. I wonder why I am so comfortable with my oun mess and so distressed by someone else’s? You find things broken that you didn’t expect. You take the short trip to crazy because you can’t find the thing you need. You have everything but the one thing you need NOW.

There is a king of grief in not being in a familiar place, a place where you have memories.

I wonder if the neighbors know how much I would like it if they came over and welcomed us. Maybe told us their name and some of their story.

I’m thankful, I’m excited, I’m scared, and I’m tired.

Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today and forever.

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Lessons from a Water Lily

Posted on July 6, 2012 by jroesler728

A koi pond needs lots of plants. They provide shade and a hiding place for fish as well as being a help in stabilizing the water. Last winter was not kind to my plants and this spring didn’t give me time to focus on the pond. It has been on a long list of “to do” things and has finally reached the top of the list.

A trip to the aquatic farm is always fun. I chose 3 breath taking lilies and 4 fish. Because my koi pond has two levels, with the middle being the deepest, I asked for advice on where to place the plants. I was told to put them in the deepest part even though that would leave them completely underwater.

Using a pole under the plant hanger I carefully lowered the plants in the deep water. I wondered if they would drown but I knew the people at the aquatic farm knew more about pond plants than I did. To my amazement, the lilies grew about 18 inches in two days and are now happily floating on top of the water.

When Jesus said He wanted to give us abundant life was He inviting us to soak in Him, go deep with Him and trust that, in so doing, we will not drown but flourish?

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Freedom Hangs in the Light of Truth

Posted on July 4, 2012 by jroesler728

When I share something that can be interpreted in more than one way my husband usually says “hang it in the best possible light.” I suppose it is another way of “giving the benefit of a doubt.”

One of the risks with blogs, emails or second hand information is that we miss the eye contact, tone of voice and body language of the sender of the information. On this day when we celebrate freedom I am reminded of Jesus saying the Truth shall set you free. He clearly identifies Himself as the Truth.

He offers us eye contact with Him and has left stories that shout His love.

I want to spend today hanging all that I encounter in the best possible light. I want the Truth to set me free.

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It’s Screaming for Color!!!

Posted on July 2, 2012 by jroesler728

 

 

I have learned much these past weeks as I have watched my friend, who is an artist, chose a new home.

 

Some of the houses held promise by their clever descriptions and web based photo gallery. Once on site, my friend needed only a minute to know that we needed to look further.

 

Then we found one that caught her eye. I applauded her choice and complemented her for finding one that was “turn key” ready. (Nothing needed to be done to it, or so I thought.)

 

My friend remained quiet until we knew that the potential obstacles to the sale had been cleared.

 

Once she knew it would be hers the mental decorating began. The place is “screaming for color” she explained as she came home from a shopping trip with a 5 foot red giraffe, 10 red bar stools, wall décor that stops you in your tracks, yellow deck chairs and brilliant umbrellas.

 

I love to see the world through the eyes of my friend.

 

I wonder if, when God looks at me, He thinks, “she is screaming for color.”

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The Comfort of an Advocate

Posted on June 29, 2012 by jroesler728

I have had a month of legal and logistical pressure. I have found myself in places of tension with city ordinances, building inspectors, insurance adjustors, real estate offers, amendments, banking legislations and…

I have had a month of placing phone calls received by a machine that doesn’t return calls, trying to decide which number to select to connect me with a person rather than more scripted computer options…

All of this has left me with feelings of abandonment…

BUT, THEN, I encountered an advocate.  He not only carefully listened but he calmly and competently lifted the load from my shoulders and transferred it to his.

His relaxed mannerisms and his verbal communication assured me that this load was not heavy for him. There would be no financial cost to me. He actually thanked me for allowing him to take on my burden.

In John’s first letter, chapter two, he assures us that we have an advocate with the Father. I am thankful, today, for a picture of this advocate. I thank God for the people in my life that are a reflection of Jesus.

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Did You Call a Wrong Number?

Posted on June 27, 2012 by jroesler728

I answered my phone and learned the call was from a nurse calling on behalf of my health insurance company. She said she wanted to go over some information for me that would help me with prevention strategies. Her first recommendation was that I not stand up too fast. She said if I did my blood pressure would drop, I would probably faint, and then could break a bone.

Did she call the wrong number or does she think I am at risk for this event?

Then she asked if I could see. She wondered if I had had my eyes tested for glaucoma. If I did that preventatively it could keep me from going blind.

Did she call the wrong number or does she think I am at risk for this?

She concluded by asking if I had had a colonoscopy in the last ten years. I told her that I had a prescription for one but I hadn’t had time to enjoy it. She encouraged me to do it before it is too late.

Did she call the wrong number or does she think???

Oh, No! Do you think the insurance company checked my date of birth???

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