Tag Archives: Energy

Chapter-a-Day

Grandma Daisy and the Three Things that Last Forever

Leave a comment

2012 12 25 Grandma Jeannes Present

Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love. 1 Corinthians 13:13 (NLT)

In my mother’s family, my great grandma Daisy was the undisputed matriarch. Divorced during a time when it was both scandalous and humiliating, she refused any money from her ex-husband and determined to raise her five children on her own. Relying on faith, hope, and love, she made ends meet and became a living example to her children and grandchildren. Grandma Daisy died when I was five years old, but her imprint on my family has become clearer to me throughout my life.

When Taylor left for Uganda last summer, I sent with her a box of crayons that I discovered in a tub of family mementoes that languished in my basement. They were Grandma Daisy’s crayons and I figured that Grandma Daisy herself would rather have them being used for art therapy projects in Uganda than gathering dust in my basement.

On Christmas Day, we gave my mother a set of three photographs showing Taylor with some children from Uganda, of a picture colored by a young girl there, and a picture of a woman drawing with Grandma Daisy’s crayons. On the back of the picture was an explanation of the photo triptych. As my mother read about Grandma Daisy’s crayons being sent to Uganda with Taylor she began to weep.

I thought about that moment this morning as I read this amazing chapter. My great Grandma Daisy had little or nothing of earthly value in this life. Her life and her legacy were not about getting more, keeping up appearances, or getting ahead. Her life and legacy were about simple faith, eternal hope and tangible love. I know that, not from having known her personally, but from the testimony and evidence given by her children and grandchildren in countless stories, anecdotes and family treasures.

Today’s chapter says that faith, hope, and love are the only three things that last for eternity. As I watched my mother’s reaction to her gift and the deep meaning it held for her, I caught a glimpse of the truth of it. As New Year’s Day approaches and I weed through bags of trash, piles of broken down cardboard, and a host of new stuff to place in our house, my thoughts are given to the coming year. I’m thinking more than ever about where my time, energy and resources are invested, and about Grandma Daisy’s legacy. I’ve never been one for big new year’s resolutions, but I think this year is about decreasing my investment in a lot of things and increasing my investment in just three.

Related articles
Chapter-a-Day

Chapter-a-Day Colossians 4

5 Comments
by indi.ca via Flickr

Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. Colossians 4:2 (NLT)

Devote [dih-voht] verb 1. to give up or appropriate to or concentrate on a particular pursuit, occupation, purpose, cause, etc.: to devote one’s time to reading.

Yesterday morning my brother asked me if I’d read a section of a book he’d asked me to read last fall. I apologized that I’d not gotten to it. Nor have I gotten to the book Wendy’s wanted me to finish for the past year or two, nor have I gotten to the book another friend gave me, or the one Taylor gave to Wendy that was then given to me. Nor did I get to the two books a fellow blogger gave me. And, I haven’t finished reading the script a fellow playwright asked me to read. ARRRRGGGHHH! CALGON, TAKE ME AWAY!

Some days when I read the morning’s chapter I’m encouraged, and other days I’m inspired. Then there are days like today when I’m convicted. When I read the simple command to devote myself to prayer, the word devote leapt of the page and pierced my heart.

What am I devoted to? What will I readily sacrifice other things for, in order that I will have the time and resources to do them? Do the things to which I say I’m devoted match my actions when it comes to devoting time, money, and energy? If you look at my life it’s certain that I’m not devoted to reading, and I’m pretty sure you could make the case that I’m not devoted to prayer either. There are a lot of worthwhile pursuits to which I’m not devoted, and some rather trivial ones to which my actions prove I am.

God, you say I’m supposed to be devoted to prayer and I guess there’s no time like the present. Forgive me for being devoted to silly insignificant things while ignoring eternal things. Help my devotion to be focused on the right things as I journey through this day.

Chapter-a-Day

Chapter-a-Day Zechariah 8

1 Comment
Uploaded with permission of artist, Magda Szab...
Image via Wikipedia

“And now here’s what I want you to do: Tell the truth, the whole truth, when you speak. Do the right thing by one another, both personally and in your courts. Don’t cook up plans to take unfair advantage of others. Don’t do or say what isn’t so. I hate all that stuff. Keep your lives simple and honest.” Zechariah 8:16-17 (MSG)

It’s human nature to feel perplexed at what God wants us to do:

  • “Where does God want me to go to school?”
  • “What job does God have for me?”
  • “Who does God want me to marry?”
  • “When does God want me to go on that mission?”

I’ve discovered along the journey that I am prone to want God to direct my situational choices (Who?, What?, Where?, When?).  Yet today’s chapter reminds me that time and time again His Message says “this is what I want” followed by qualitative commands. I must conclude that God is ultimately more concerned with the fruit of our lives than our circumstances. He is most interested in directing our time, energy and mindshare to the cultivation of our hearts, minds and souls towards the qualities of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. If we are focused on these things, then the situational and circumstantial questions will fade in importance and fold themselves naturally and organically into God’s will.

Enhanced by Zemanta
Chapter-a-Day

Chapter-a-Day 1 Kings 17

1 Comment

Running on empty. This is the word of the God of Israel: 'The jar of flour will not run out and the bottle of oil will not become empty before God sends rain on the land and ends this drought. 1 Kings 17:14 (MSG)

It's been a long week and I'm tired. The physical and emotional batteries are on empty.

As I read the chapter today, I was struck by God's promise to the woman of Zarephath to replenish the oil and flour in her home each day so that she, and her son, and Elijah could eat.

Just as Jesus would replenish the loaves and fish until everyone had their fill of fish sandwiches.

Just as Jesus taught us to pray "Give us this day, our daily bread."

God is in the business of replenishment. He provides what we need when we need it. And, that's a good thought as I head out the door this morning.