Small, but Significant!

The mountain ranger concluded: “Now that you can see the power of the eruption I hope you will see that you are very small and insignificant.” Even though I had been 300 miles away from Mount Saint Helens at the time of this catastrophic event, I had felt a part of the volcano’s eruption because its ash had fallen on my car. Now, twenty-eight years later, I finally got to view the devastation for myself. Of course, much of the affected area had come back to life with healthy forests, alpine flowers and wildlife, but much was still in its moonscape-like condition. The ranger listed some amazing statistics:

*The eruption caused the whole north face of Mount Saint Helen's to collapse creating a HUGE avalanche of massive rocks;
*The avalanche debris, being several hundred feet high, changed the dimensions of nearby Spirit Lake and slammed down the Toutle River covering the riverbed for 14 miles with 300 – 600 feet high of rock and ash;
*The eruption caused volcanic ash to shot thousands of feet up in the air - it was this ash that floated north to Victoria;
*All the trees within a 150 square mile radius were either blown over or left dead standing (these are still visible today).

As the ranger described the effects of the eruption, my eyes were riveted to the landscape. Yes, I did feel small and insignificant compared to nature’s power! If we are in the way of a landslide, tsunami, twister, or flood, nature does not go around. It sweeps us away, crushes us with debris, drowns us with water, or suffocates us with wind. There is no mercy!

Yet, I AM significant in the eyes of the One who created and controls the power of nature. I am wonderfully and intricately made; my parts were marvelously knit together in my mother’s womb. Every day of my life was recorded in God’s book even before a single day had passed. He knows my every thought and His thoughts about me are precious. (Psalm 139.) God loved the world, and me, so much that He gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16.) As a Christian I am blessed, adopted into God’s family, and receive gifts from Him including the Holy Spirit. My sins are forgiven and I am redeemed. I was chosen to be His even before He created the world. He has made me a part of His overall plan. With Christ in me I am holy and have hope and assurance of eternal life with Him in heaven. (Eph 1:3-14.) And if chaos swirls around me God is my refuge and strength. (Psalm 46.)

How great is the Lord God Almighty! And how small I am in the universe. But thank you God for creating me and considering me significant!

Pluto Demoted!

“Everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life” John 3:16

“Pluto Demoted!” This was the declaration by the International Astronomical Union on August 24, 2006, upon the completion of its annual General Assembly. Amazing! In just a few short days, the 2500 astronomers talked science and decided to reclassify Pluto, what we had known as the ninth planet in our Solar System, as a “dwarf planet”. What God had created in the beginning of time as “good” (Gen 1:14-19) was abruptly given a lower standing by humankind!

Mulling on this announcement, I thought that it is OK to change the status of Pluto as we gain more understanding of the universe, but what about our standing with God? Can our status suffer the same demotion? Can our salvation be changed by a vote? Although this is a serious theological question not easily answered quickly, here are a few Bible verses to consider that give us assurance of our status with God:

1. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16). If we believe in Jesus, we will receive eternal life.

2. “Turn from your sins and turn to God” (Matt 4:17) and “But anyone who obeys God’s laws and teaches them will be great in the Kingdom of Heaven” (Matt 5:19). Confess your sins, change your ways to God’s ways (repent), and show others the way then you will have rewards in heaven.

3. “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ ‘Right!’ Jesus told him. ‘Do this and you will live!’” (Luke 10:27, 28). Focusing all of our being on God and then sharing his love with others will keep secure our good status with God.

In order not to have our status with God reclassified, let us not only consider these verses but also study the Bible for more implications of faith and pray that God will guide and keep us in his Way.

God's Spendid Gift

“His brilliant splendor fills the heavens, and the earth is filled with His praise!
What a wonderful God He is!” Habakkuk 3:3 NLT

“Wake up, my dear.”
“Who’s talking to me?” I muttered.
“I want to show you something beautiful!”
Groan. Looking out the curtainless window, I saw the soft blue pre-dawn light mingling with the pale yellow-orange rays of the anticipated sun. “Oh, Lord, I specifically prayed last night that you’d let me sleep-in today since I’ve already been up to see the past two sunrises.”
“Get up, my dear. It’s what you’ve been waiting for. It’s my gift to you for your patience.”
Well, how could I refuse God? I had come to the countryside hoping to capture some picturesque scenes of the nearby farms. The previous mornings I awoke early and slipped out of the house to photograph the sunrise. Both times, however, I arrived at my vantage point a little late for the actual appearance of the sun and both days had been a little cloudy. But, today, it was a half hour earlier. I knew I would arrive in time! So, even though still groggy, I dressed, grabbed my camera and off I went – believing that God would present me with a magnificent show! Walking quickly down the road, I searched for the spot that would match my long-dreamed-about perfect sunrise photo. “Just a few more meters,” I panted to myself as I now jogged down the street. Then I saw it: the perfect scene! A pond, a farm fence, a tractor, some outbuildings, and a clear sightline to the distant prairie horizon. And even more perfect–there was a cool mist floating over the gently rolling green pastures! I could hardly wait to capture the magnificent scene that God would unfold before me! Two hundred photos and forty-five minutes later, I praised Him who created this world and loved me enough to share its beauty with me!
Has God prompted you recently to follow Him on a certain path? Are there obstacles in your way? Trust Him and He will bless you with gifts beyond your expectations!

Just Over the Next Ridge

“Show me the path where I should walk, O Lord; point out the right road for me to follow. Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you.” Psalm 25:4, 5 NLT

The leader of our hiking group had been there before. She excitedly described our destination as a mountain meadow littered with alpine flowers surrounded by pine trees. A view to the glistening lake below and the mountains rising in the distance would cap the visual delight once we arrived at the Glacier Glades. It sounded great as I love being in the great outdoors! Knowing that the round trip would take about two hours, I packed my knapsack accordingly with two water bottles, camera equipment, a snack, raincoat, and cell phone. However, my confident feeling of readiness was shattered when I heard the word: “bears”. My heart stopped! Oh, my! I had not even thought about bears and certainly had not packed any bear spray. Now what? It was too late to back out so I put on a brave face. We determined that if we made noise with loud voices and by stepping on crackling dry leaves and branches, the bears would not approach us. Now, confident of our equipment and plans, we headed off on our mission to find the Glades.

As any experienced adventure leader will attest, successfully reaching the desired destination requires not only proper equipment and plans but also knowing the right path. In the first aspect, we were ready – knapsacks were packed with the necessary tools and last minute precautions were taken. However, in the second aspect, we had one slight problem: our leader could not quite remember exactly where to find the right path. For sure, it was just “over there”! Trustingly, we followed her onward and upward. Sometimes we followed major pathways, sometimes deer trails, and sometimes just tramped through the underbrush trying to avoid stinging nettle, blackberry thorns and whipping branches into each other’s faces. When we were not looking down watching our footsteps or looking sideways scanning the bushes for bears, we looked up to see how close we were to the top of the hill. “Oh, it should just be over this next ridge,” our leader encouraged us. However, at the top of the ridge all we saw was more forest stretching upward to yet another hilltop. “Um, maybe we’ll see the meadows over that hill.” This pattern of journeying toward a destination followed by disappointment repeated several times as we trekked about in search of the Glacier Glades.

As the hike lengthened in time, I reflected that this experience on the mountain was similar to my walk with Jesus Christ – full of ups and downs, wandering on and off the path, and looking over my shoulder at bear-like threats hovering nearby. A recurring theme in my life is one of financial struggle. At one such time, in the 90s, we operated a small business with sales that were seasonally cyclical. During the slow periods, we could not pay all our bills and relied heavily on credit. Definitely, it was a struggle to meet the needs of the business as well as our family of six. At one point in the valley of financial despair, I even wanted to apply for social assistance but my husband preferred that we do everything humanly possible to make ends meet and rely on God for the rest. With God’s help we kept the bear of bankruptcy at bay and over time our financial situation improved. Now, whenever financial pressures growl at me, I rely on God for the reality check lesson, keep my credit card in my pocket, and trust Him in all circumstances.

Wherever my walk with Jesus goes, I access the tools and habits in my “faith-sack” that keep me focused on Him. Reading the Bible reveals the nature of God and His guidelines for righteous living. Praying in faith and seeing God’s blessings in the answers removes doubt and encourages trust. Listening to His Spirit in my heart allows humility, compassion, and love to pour out. Focusing on His power and might removes fear and creates security. Accepting Jesus as my saviour gives me hope for a glorious future with Him in heaven. Even though there are hills and valleys, wanderings, threats, and disappointments on my faith journey, using the tools and habits of my “faith-sack” on a daily basis equips me to stay on God’s path eventually leading me to my God-ordained destination.

Back to our hike. Just as we were almost ready to give up our search and head back, we stumbled out of a grove of trees onto the Glacier Glades. “Hooray!” The promised scenic view rewarded our persistence. The many ridges we had climbed were now a distant memory. After a little while taking in the sights, we headed back to our car, arriving safely thankful that we had not seen any bears!

Lord, I thank you for providing me with tools to use on my faith journey. I pray that my readers will also take advantage of these in order to stay on your path and grow closer to you. May our relationship with you grow deeper and stronger. Amen.

Give up my what?

“This is what the Lord says: Because you have obeyed me and not withheld even your beloved son . . . I will bless you richly.” Genesis 22:16, 17 NLT

Following God’s instructions, Abraham took his beloved son, Isaac, up the mountain, prepared an altar of wood ready for a sacrifice and tied Isaac on top of it. Disturbing? Yes! Confusing? Definitely! God had made several promises to Abraham that necessitated Isaac reaching adulthood and fathering sons. How could Abraham go through with this? He could, because he trusted God and knew that somehow Isaac would not be lost to him. “We will come right back,” he told his servants. In the end, Abraham obeyed, a ram was sacrificed not Isaac, and God blessed him for his obedience.

A compelling story, is it not? I take a deep breath and slowly exhale as I consider the ramifications. Could I? Would I give up my “beloveds” if God asked, or even demanded it? Easily, I could give up my home, most of my belongings, and my car. Grudgingly, I could give up my camera, my wedding rings, and my computer. I could even give up my dreams, hopes, and aspirations if I was clear on God’s expectations. But, could I give up my children? Well, when they were young I used to say to God, “Don’t ask me to be separated from my kids.” So, no, I would not have given up my kids. Now that they are grown, it is much easier to say, “Yes, God, I will obey.” Could I give up my husband? Well, I do not want to think about that.

Jesus desires ALL of our affection, interest, and loyalty. “If you want to be my follower you must love me more than your own father, mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters – yes, more than your own life” Luke 14:26. A tough choice, but the blessings that follow our acts of obedience are immeasurable and eternal.

What are your “beloveds”? Are you prepared to sacrifice them if God asked?

Lord, I pray that we hold our “beloveds” with an open hand. May we joyfully release that which hinders us from obediently following you. Thank you for your Spirit in us who enables us to do what is humanly difficult.

Orange Markers

“. . . Now it was the harvest season, and the Jordan was overflowing its banks. But as soon as the feet of the priests who were carrying the Ark touched the water at the river’s edge, the water began piling up . . . Then all the people crossed over . . . on dry ground . . .” Joshua 3:6-17

“This is it – the Glacier Glades!” our hike leader exclaimed. What had started as a two-hour hike had turned into a three-hour search for the right trail to the mountain meadows. After much zigzagging through pine forest and scratching brambles, up hills and along ridges, our persistence was rewarded with a vast view across the meadows to the lake below and the mountains beyond. Whew! We made it! . . . Next, (looking left and right) which way back?!

Heading towards the lake and down the ridge was a good start, but we were still not sure how far north we needed to travel. We trod onward, silent prayers lingering under our breath.

“Look, an orange marker around a tree!”
“Ah, a good sign. If it’s a property marker it will lead us to civilization.”

Sure enough, a few more steps, eyes searching, we spotted another marker. “Hooray!” So it went. We proceeded in faith from marker to marker heading somewhat in the direction we wanted to go. Still traipsing through dry grass and bushes, dodging more pine trees, and passing the skeleton of a cow, (creepy), we came to a fence and followed it northward, finally reaching the farm where our car waited for us. Ah, safe and sound!

Just as we stepped forward in faith, so did another group, albeit much larger, a long time ago. The Israelites waited restlessly on the plain east of the Jordan River with only one more obstacle to overcome before arriving at their destination – the Promised Land. The recent snow melt and spring rains caused the river to overflow its banks as it roared through the lowlands. But, for God, a raging river is no obstacle. He directed the priests to carry the Ark of the Covenant into the river a few steps and stop. As they obeyed, God stopped the river allowing all million plus Israelites to cross the now dry riverbed and finally to enter the Promised Land.

Although our hike was inconsequential in the world’s scheme of things, having the faith in God to guide and lead me step by step helped reduce my worry and increased my enjoyment of the outing.

Lord, thank you that I can trust you as I step out in faith despite not seeing the path ahead!

In Whom do I Trust?

“Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust Him, and He will help you.” Psalm 37:5

Three weeks before I needed the tradesman I arranged for him to come over, review the job and present a quote. Because I knew this man as an acquaintance and thought I knew his work ethic, I said to my husband later, “I trust him to do the job on time and properly. I don’t need to get other quotes. And besides, it's a challenge to get tradespeople to return calls and show up at the job site during this construction boom.” Two weeks later, I called the tradesman and made an appointment with him to do the job one week later. It was a “two-day” job, he said. I booked him in between the plumber and the floor installer. The day before the appointment, he called to say he would be delayed by one day. The next day he called to say there would be another delay. “Would the next day be alright?” “Yes. But can you work around the floor installer?” “Of course,” he assured me. On the third day, he arrived, but after a short while working around the noise and clutter of the floor installer, made another excuse and left. Yet another appointment was made four days later for him to finish the job.

At this point, my stress level was rising; my patience was disappearing. I was not pleased! The amount of trust and confidence I had apportioned to him was obviously misplaced. Not only was I disappointed that I had hired someone unable to keep to his commitments but also our renovation was getting behind schedule. Stress was building rapidly! I did not understand why God was allowing this trouble to occur now when He had greatly blessed our previous four months of renovations. “Why, oh why, God? Please solve this issue. I trusted this man and now I am disappointed.” Then it hit me like a pound of nails – I had trusted a person instead of God.

“Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust Him, and He will help you.” Psalm 37:5

With one week left before the absolute deadline for this work, my prayers turned desperate. “God, PLEASE, bring a tradesman who will answer his phone, come when he says, and complete the job in time. PLEASE!!!! I am trusting YOU now! Forgive me for not trusting YOU.” I knew now that it would only be by divine intervention that this job would be done on time!

True to His integrity, God answered my prayer a few days later, but only after letting me alternate between sweating it out and waiting trustfully. I always smile at God’s timing! With three days to spare, another tradesman and his apprentice came and completed the job. “Whew!”

My lesson: instead of trusting only in people, trust in God to move through people to get the job done!

The Closet Walls

“Enjoy the personal satisfaction of having done your work well.” Gal 6:4 NLT

Paint brush, paint, excellence – which word does not fit in this grouping? Let’s see. Last night, I painted a closet in our basement that holds the hot water tank and the stacking washer/dryer. “Couldn’t you be doing better things with your time?” you ask. Certainly! BUT, even though the previous paint job was fine, we had drilled a number of holes in the walls and the resulting polyfiller patches needed covering. “But it’s a basement closet,” you say. Yes, I admit, most people probably would not even notice, especially since the closet has doors. However, I look into the closet almost every day when I do the laundry and I like my surroundings to be beautiful! Not having a can of the original paint colour, I chose some paint that we had on hand which fit into the colour scheme of the room. With walls cleaned and prepped, the painting started.

Four hours later, two coats of paint had been applied and I was done. The next morning, I examined my effort in the daylight. Um, there were several areas that needed touchups and I could try to paint out more of the old colour behind the hot water tank. But wait, is it really necessary? I mean, really, who sees this? Could I be content to leave my project only ninety percent finished? Of course not! I strive for excellence. Every task I start, even those that no one else sees, I want to complete to my utmost best standard! The Apostle Paul says in Galatians 6:4-5, “Be sure to do what you should, for then you will enjoy the personal satisfaction of having done your work well, and you won’t need to compare yourself to anyone else. For, we are each responsible for our own conduct.” Painting a closet is unimportant on the scale of solving the world’s problems, but God gave me this home to live in and take care of, so completing repairs properly is important. As I want to honour God in everything I do, I made sure the touchups were done well, therefore, giving no reason for anyone, or even God, to question my work. So, from my standpoint, paint brush, paint, and excellence definitely go together!