Crazy Yet Fruitful Observations

Recently I have been noticing some kind of funny contradicting things and I'd like to share three of them:

First, I have been interested in the word "Shalom." My spiritual director uses it to close his emails and asks for it in his prayers for me. I understand it to mean that he is blessing me with God's presence on my whole being. Rob Bell, a prominent pastor and writer states "It is the presence of the goodness of God, the presence of wholeness and completeness." It is such a deep word to me and brings true peace. I decided to Google it and see what others had to say. You can imagine my surprise, laughter and then sadness when I saw -"Shalom - Buy it on E-Bay." How ridiculous it is that one can believe that shalom can be bought. Yet how thankful I am that this true, deep sense of peace comes so freely from God and I only have to ask for it.

Second, my new neighbour across the hall put out an unusual welcome mat. It simply has the word "LEAVE" emblazoned across it. Okay it is a funny conversation piece. Every time I see it, I think of the great contradiction - a mat that is supposed to make a guest welcome and appreciated states a total opposite meaning. I am so glad God's welcome mat says "Seek and you shall find" and "Knock and the door will be opened." And most of all, I am thankful that every time I walk out of my door and see my neighbour's mat, I am reminded that God's arms are open wide and I am most welcome to walk straight into them. He will never ask me to leave even as a joke.

Thirdly, my old washing machine and dryer were replaced with a new set in my apartment. I ran the washing machine for the first time yesterday. When it started to drain the wash water, I realized it sounded like the water was draining outside of the machine. Sure enough, as I rounded the kitchen counter, there was a flood of water coming at me. Fortunately I was able to turn off the machine before all the water emptied out. The maintenance man for the complex arrived almost immediately after I called. I almost laughed out loud when I saw a roll of paper towels tucked under his arm. It appeared that he was going to try to mop up a small flood with a roll of paper towels. I had already put down all the bath and beach towels I owned! Again, I am reminded that when I have a major problem, God comes totally prepared with the power and ability to take care of any mess - no matter how big it is.

Don't we have a great God?

Amazing Battle in Nature Challenges Me to Prayer

Recently on the ABC News website feature called I-Caught there has been a video shot by a tourist on safari in Kruger National Park, South Africa. It shows a herd of water buffalo approaching a water hole and 5 lions crouching ready to spring. The lions manage to separate a baby water buffalo from the herd and they end up in the water. As the lions try to drag the buffalo back to land, a large crocodile joins the fight and tries to pull the buffalo back in the water. The lions win and get the buffalo up out of the water only to have the whole water buffalo herd come all together and several adults rush the lions. One actually flips a lion in the air. Amazingly the baby buffalo gets up and runs to the herd. One by one the lions are chased away. It is a breathtaking video as the buffalo conquer their worst enemy.

My father commented and I have continued to reflect on it - that this is a beautiful image of how Christians and the church can come together and rescue whatever Satan has threatened to take away. That in numbers we are strong against a very formidable enemy. How the power of Christians coming together can wrestle what is precious to us away from the enemy. We can apply this to many things - unsaved people, Christians who are struggling, our personal challenges etc. This incredible example in nature has been a great encouragement and example to me. While I have benefited from the herd protecting me through prayer, I can also be part of the herd, willing to come face to face with enemy to protect those who need help.

Watch for yourself - http://ugv.abcnews.go.com/Player.aspx?id=556758

The Alabaster Box

As I wrote in a previous blog, I was reminded of a poem that I wrote in 2003 when I was asked to speak at a Women's Bible Study. A woman, who was like my second mother, made copies of it to hand out to the women. Unbeknownst to me, she had passed it on to other friends. As I was visiting her in the Hospice during her last week on earth, one of her friends came to visit. I was introduced to her by the family and immediately the friend said "Oh you are the writer of the poem about the alabaster jar." I decided to look it up and have been reflecting on it since. It is funny how I can be so convicted about something at one time in my life and now four years later, I find I am being challenged once again by the same things. Walking with and for Jesus Christ sure is a continuing challenge and I am constantly having to search within myself for things that I dearly hold on to. I have definitely learned that they are much better off when they are at God's feet and out of my hands ....... but it still is hard to let them go.

The Alabaster Box


Ashamed, scorned , her every dream broken
The woman comes to Jesus’ feet.
All that she can give Him are her tears,
Her hair gently caressing His worn feet.
She breaks her alabaster box.
The aroma ascends and fills the room.
It is the last possession that she has
And so she lays it on the feet of Jesus, her Redeemer.

What is in my alabaster box?
The one and only hidden away in my heart.
It holds the pain of broken dreams,
The longings for a husband and a family,
The desires to be accepted and free.
I would lay it at the feet of my King
But it is my last possession to which I cling.
The alabaster box held tightly in my heart.

Jesus reminds me gently to let go
For I will never be free until I do so,
To break the alabaster box
And lay it all at His feet.
I want to hold on to all that is dear
For it is a lot to forget.

So many dreams for myself

Can I let go and lay them broken at His feet?

It shouldn’t be all that hard
For in His presence I abide
Yet still I am afraid.
What healing shall come from Him whom I love
If I would but lay the box at His feet.
For in that box is all that I hold dear
To let it go, I need to know my God is near.

What worship that would be?
To say to God – “It is all here -
My dreams, my hopes and my desires.”
For Him to do as He pleases.
Like the prostitute woman who initiated this act
Forgiven, relieved and worshipful I would be.

LM, August, 2003