Met Outside the Door

Excerpts from The Imitation of Christ by Thomas a Kempis
Book 1 Chapter 13
Of Resisting Temptation

So long as we live in the world, we cannot be without trouble and trial.

No man is so perfect in holiness that he hath never temptations, nor can we ever be wholly free from them.

[Through temptations] we are humbled, purified, instructed.

Nevertheless, we must watch, especially in the beginnings of temptation; for then is the foe the more easily mastered, when he is not suffered to enter within the mind, but is met outside the door as soon as he hath knocked.

The longer a man delayeth his resistance, the weaker he groweth, and the stronger groweth the enemy against him.

(The photo was taken by my son while he was in Texas recently. I don't have one of a closed door, but I thought that the trestle blocking the tracks conveys a similar impediment.)

And Yet...

I took this picture with my cell phone while on a walk after dinner. It doesn't begin to do justice to the mountains or the sky I saw. While the sun slowly set, I marveled over each new color change, and each ray shooting out from under the clouds. I saw bold colors, then a bright golden disk where the sun slipped behind the mountains, and finally, God's watercolor painting framing the darkened peaks in the distance.

One of Sunday's scripture readings was from 2 Corinthians 6. Paul concludes his list of hardships encountered by writing, "...having nothing, and yet possessing everything."

You can drive an old car, wear out-of-date clothes, pine for new flooring in the kitchen, and pray that the hot water heater hangs in there for one more year. Yet, no matter who you are, you can walk outside your door and see the same sky and the same sunset as the richest person in town. But that's not even the best part. We can marvel at God's grace and mercy to us while we were yet sinners.

We have nothing, and yet possess everything!

"For the Fruit of All Creation"

And He said, "Whereunto shall we liken the kingdom of God? or with what comparison shall we compare it?
It is like a grain of mustard seed, which, when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that be in the earth:
But when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches; so that the fowls of the air may lodge under the shadow of it."

Mark 4: 30-32 KJV

The contemporary (1970) lyrics of this hymn are added to the melody which I know as the lullaby, "All Through the Night". The lullaby's tune, "Ar Hyd y Nos", is a popular Welsh folk song first recorded in a 1784 book of Welsh songs.

For the Fruit of All Creation

For the fruit of all creation,
thanks be to God.
gifts bestowed on every nation,
thanks be to God.
For the plowing, sowing, reaping,
silent growth while we are sleeping,
future needs in earth's safekeeping,
thanks be to God.

(For all verses of this hymn, click on the hymn link. Photo above is a close up of a mustard flower. There is a photo of a man standing next to a mustard plant here.)

Swirling Winds of Life

I think my brain is mush.

We get so caught up in the culture of our time and place. (Think: magazine covers in the supermarket line, basketball finals, new Rockies baseball manager, movies, Obama's latest apology tour to Europe, etc.) We forget the "real" world. The world out there, that is hurting, wounded, and in need of the Savior.

This past Sunday, we had a visit at church from a missionary from Free Burma Rangers. They minister to the displaced ethnic peoples of Burma. He was accompanied by about 50 refugees from Burma who now live in Denver. They sang some hymns in their native Karen language. We also saw pictures of Burmese people running from the occupying army. They carried everything they owned in large baskets strapped to their backs. Sobering.

Just found out yesterday, my mom may have cancer in her bone marrow.

I was rear-ended by a car yesterday on my way home from taking my mom to the doctor. Neck is a little sore.

This afternoon we watched a funnel cloud forming in the skies north of us. I've never seen the funnel cloud actually swirling like that before. The funnel went horizontally and never came close to touching down, but it was awesome anyway. It makes you feel quite insignificant and in awe of God's creation and power to see such a sight.

I found out tonight that one of my brothers probably had two strokes last weekend. He's only 52 and not a Christian.


On a lighter note, but monumental in our immediate lives nonetheless: our almost fifteen year old son is now being texted by two girls from church. Literally overnight, he's entered the world of boy-girl stuff. We weren't ready for that!

Both kids were gone tonight (sleepovers), and my sweet husband agreed to watch Sense and Sensibility with me. (HIS idea! Theater version with Emma Thompson and Hugh Grant.) It was a nice diversion from the turmoil in my life.

I'd appreciate prayers for my brother, Scott, his wife and three children. They live in Ireland. Quite a ways from me in Colorado. Hopefully, he will soon be released from the hospital in Dublin.

I know that God is always in control. He is always with me. I seek to do His will.

(Photo comes from the web--taken this afternoon by newspaper photographer, David Jennings. This is the tornado we saw.)