Redeemed and Loved by the Sovereign Lord

Redeem:

to deliver: save from sins
to restore the honor or worth of
to turn in (vouchers or coupons) and receive something in exchange
to ransom; exchange or buy back for money; under threat
to pay off (loans or promissory notes)
to convert into cash; of commercial papers

This morning I decided it was time to study this word...REDEEM. The words of David in 2 Samuel 7 are the forefront of this study...he understood redemption like I want to. David, the King of Israel, David from whose family our Savior came; David who could fight off giants with no more than a sling and a rock. David who understood the redemption because he is of the family of Ruth who was redeemed by BOAZ, her kinsman redeemer.

Here is what David said:

"Who am I, O Sovereign Lord, and what is my family that you have brought me this far? And as if this were not enough in your sight, OSovereign Lord, you have also spoken about the future of the house of your servant. Is this your usual way of dealing with man, O Sovereign Lord?

What more can David say to you? For you know your servant, O Sovereign Lord. For the sake of your word and according to your will, you have doen this great thing and made it known to your servant.

How great you are, O Sovereign Lord! There is no one like you and there is no God but you, as we have heard with our own ears. And who is like your people Israel - the one nation on earth that God went ot to redeem as a people for himself, and to make and name for himself, and to perform great and awesome wonders by driving out nationals and their gods from before your people, who you redeemed from Egypt? You have established your peole Israel as your very own forever, and you, O Lord have become their God."

This makes me ask...who am I Lord? Who am I that you have brought me this far? Do I truly understand your sovereignity? You are working on me to drive out all of my 'gods.' You have driven out my enemies; You choose me. You redeemed me. Who am I?

I find it amazing that I was chosen before time to become a child of God. Christ, through his salvation, is bigger than all challenges, establishing me as one of his own...forever...to be chosen, to be ransomed, to pay my debts because he is big enough and sovereign enough to do so. He delivered me...he turns in my sins and covers them for me. He is big enough to fight off all injustices, failings, fears, GIANTS in my life. He cared for me enough to redeem me. Praise! Praise! Praise!

Today I pray like I know, without a doubt, that I am loved and cared enough to have been REDEEMED. I pray that I can act in a way that is grateful and thankful of this GIFT. There is peace and freedom in knowing that we are loved that much. You, too, sister, have been REDEEMED. How is your life changed because of it?

Blessed Routines

I haven't blogged in over a week! YIKES. It is hard to get into the habit of blogging. I feel like I am so behind in posting that I don't even know what to say. A cold has taken over the body of my husband and has eeked its way to me. This week is full...full of the pressures of collecting data for my dissertation, full of meetings and obligations, full of needy college students...just plain FULL. I have a meeting every night this week. UGH!

And yet this week I have been able to wake up each morning in my own bed. I arrive home late each evening to the Christmas lights on the garage and front door and two pets in front of the fire place (fighting for position!). I get to wake up to a cup of coffee from my husband. I have been able to squeeze in time each morning before the frantic pace of work for time in the WORD; devotional time. I have been able to make my husband's lunch each morning (ok, two mornings out of three :) - that's now too bad!!). And now...time to blog! YEA!

This morning I find myself very thankful for "normal" life. I know that "normal" in this house has strange meanings; but I am so thankful for each of these signs of home that make me appreciate the little things. The routines of life...time to sit and appreciate a laugh in person with Mark; planning for the weeks ahead.

Ah, the blessed routines of life! Just normal, crazy, lovely life! Isn't life grand?

Good thoughts today (you've heard it a million times, me too...but I love it):

The Lord bless you and keep you;

the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;

the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.

Numbers 6:24-26

Thankful Hearts

I read a sign once at a great little store. It said "Oh giver of all things, grant me one more wish: a thankful heart." I wish I would have bought it. I would put it in my kitchen at home as a constant reminder of how I want my heart to be. It is amazing with all of the blessings that he has given me that it takes a national holiday for me to truly reflect on what I am thankful for. Actually, I do acknowledge each day those things that have blessed me, but I do not want this holiday to pass without a fervent presence of a thankful heart. My goal this week, in the craziness of the travel (with the other 47 million travelers this thanksgiving), and preparation, is to hour by hour be thankful for all the Lord has blessed me with. It is so much. It is way more than I deserve.

In this moment, I am most thankful for prayer. Last week I was struggling over how much Mark has been gone this fall, and I asked Mark to pray over it. I had never asked Mark for help with it. I know that he prayed, he emailed it to me. It was amazing. It worked. By the time that Mark had gotten home that night, my anxiety over the travel was gone. It is amazing how he worked in this situation that had been brewing in my heart of discontent for awhile.

I am so thankful that in this way, all of my prayers and petitions, can be brought to God. I am ever thankful that he listens, even when I have been down the road before; that he hears and answers in ways that I most need. We have been given the privilege of having a direct line of communication with our savior. We are blessed.

I have recited this verse so many times, but this morning I saw a new piece to it:

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, WITH THANKSGIVING, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

We are to be thankful to be able to present our requests to God. AMEN! AMEN! AMEN!

Requests: We are traveling to Seattle tonight (pray for travel mercies). And now, dear friends, how can I pray for you this thankful season?

What am I to learn?

I am a child of education. I love learning. I love learning about my job and how to do it better. I love learning about agriculture. I love learning about 17th century roman history. I love learning a new recipe. I love learning about things I could really care less about. I love to learn for learning sake.

But I have come to the realization over this last month that the Lord is trying to teach me...and I am a stubborn and unmotivated student. I think about the apostles. They soaked up the Lords teaching. They were punished and threatened, all because they trusted in their teacher. I am not so good. I really don't like to be disowned and threatened. And yet, I am forced to believe that when road blocks come my way, there is a reason for them, and the Lord is trying to teach me something in it.

I have been meditating on this tiny scripture that I found in Proverbs (24:32) that wasn't even the point of the lesson I was studying...but here it is:
"I applied my heart to what I observed and learned a lesson from what I saw."
I need to be diligent about this. When circumstanes come my way, I have to believe that I am to learn something in this that will help me to manifest the holy spirit within and help me to act accordingly.

I am not a good student here, but I hope that I am learning.

"Teach me to do your will, for you are my God; may your good spirit lead me on level ground" Ps 143.10

And a prayer request:
I have been alone all fall it feels like. Mark forgot (after he got home on Tuesday) that he had to fly to Alanta on Thursday. And I just now heard that he will be gone for our Ag Ed Christmas party that is at OUR house (I didn't know about that trip either). I have come, in the almost two years since we have been married, to depend on him and I feel single again! I am not sure what the Lord is trying to teach me in this, but would you, dear sweet friend, pray that I get it figured out? Pray that I can do all this without Mark.
Thanks friends!

Monday - Again?

Wow! It is Monday again! How did that happen. I am one week to Thanksgiving vacation, one week until a trip to Bellevue to my Sisters, one week full of tasks (too many to do, no doubt) and only two days until I get my husband back. Fall is always a crazy time for us, but this fall I feel as though I have been 'home alone' most often. I will be anxious for his return.

I spent this weekend on the road. I drove 5.5 hours to Kearney, Nebraska to meet a former College Roommate (Peggy). She has moved to Ames, IA and Kearney, Nebraska is half way between our respective stops. It was so great! I spent a lot of time thinking, watching the prairie pass by and listening to Mere Christianity on my IPOD. I have tried to read Mere Christianity may times, but CS Lewis was always talking above my reading level! Listening to it made me think, made me understand the words better, and reminded me of those fundamentals of my faith. Peggy and I spent the weekend talking, shopping in sweet antique stores (bought a wash tub and a free-standing wreath holder - CUTE!) and enjoying being around one another. Peggy has a yellow Labrador - we are kin because of our love of these crazy dogs!

I have wondered over this past week - what is it that makes a friend? CS Lewis talked about friendship, Beth Moore's down load was on friendships, I feel like I am struggling with friendships, it is my consistent thought this past week.

Christian women are commanded to: Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as Christ forgave you." Ephesians 4:32. I would like to forget this verse! When I was truly angry last week, and I wanted to shout, it was KayDee who reminded me that being a Christian means being one to the core (drat it!) - a changed inside. While I could be mad, I am commanded to be compassionate and forgiving. She reminded me that this situation could not be talked about any more, as it would make us talk badly about our friends, and we should NEVER do this. We are going to be each other accountability partners in this. We are to be different...it is not easy, but what value!

CS Lewis talked about a key Christian virtue of Charity as acting as though you LOVE everyone. It is not LOVING everyone. It is 'doing onto others.' He even implied that by treating others this way will actually help us to LOVE them. I had never thought of charity in this way, but I will now. He also reminded us that these are CHRISTIAN values, and we can not expect non-Christians to act in the way we are commanded. We must, but our job is to love others who they are and where they are, this is our job as Christians!

What is a friend to Kellie? One that helps remind me to be a better version of myself. One who loves me, provides charity, is supportive, is kind. One who is honestly up front with me on my failings, and loves me in spite of them. A friend is one that I can spend time with, easy, unconditional time.

I thank God for all of my friends, and I pray that I can be the friend that others need, whatever their definition is. I pray that in this, too, I can learn and grow. In this too, I can model my Savior, who loves and forgives unconditionally. Thank you dear friends!

Looking UP!

Deuteronomy 4:29
But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you LOOK for him with all your heart and all your soul.

I sometimes feel like a cloud follows me around. That is how last week was for me. Just as I was tackling one challenge another presented itself. I had such a hard time shaking the darkness...

And then one day you wake up and things start looking up. Finally, one day you see the positive; all that is good, and all that can be. I was thinking about this on Saturday. It seemed like the dark cloud was starting to lift.

In honor of it I decided that I needed to look up. So I spent the weekend forcing my eyesight from its usual view to looking up...and I couldn’t believe what I have been missing.

I saw beautiful windows
And weather vanes
And lamp posts glistening with early sunlight
And crosses

And snow-capped mountains
And clouds
And pinecones on trees
And flags
And airplanes with jet streams
And leaves

And trees growing out of rocks
And stars
And....LIGHT....

It became apparent that there is no surprise to LOOK UP and then see things LOOKING UP.
It is all in the perspective.

Psalm 34:5
Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.

LISTENING

Listening...
I talk a lot. I am not always sure that I even listen to myself when I talk. But here are three things that made me think about listening yesterday.
When I was explaining to my friend Won Ton Tawnya how incredibly wrong the week was, she responded by saying “I want you to tell me EVERY word.” Can you believe that? Tawnya, who has two boys under the age of four, who is temporarily living across the state from her husband because they have sold their old house and the new house isn’t ready yet said she had time to hear every word of my stories. Her life is busy and she said she wanted to hear my stories...what an incredible gift of friendship – just having someone offer to truly listen.

My journal last night had a saying by Raquel Welch that said “You can’t fake listening.” Don’t you believe this? I know that there are times when students come into my office for advising wanting to explain to me why it is necessary to AGAIN drop a class and I just nod and think about what I am going to make for dinner. While I think I have put on my ‘professional mask’ I am sure that I portray the “I am not listening” face. You just can’t fake it.

Finally, I have to admit, when the week presented challenge after challenge, sick husband after sick dog, difficult student after difficult student, I admit I was thinking “Lord, can’t you hear me? Can’t you see that we are suffering? Can’t you help us?” And although I am sure He was whispering to me, I just was so taken away by what was around me, I couldn’t hone in on the Spirit. I couldn’t hear his response. Was He listening?

My devotional yesterday said that the WORD of GOD is only alive, effective and powerful when we RECEIVE it. Communication in any form, in order to be received, must first be SENT. Therefore, I have to be sure that when I sent out my prayer, the ever present, ever powerful savior must have HEARD it. In turn to communicate to me I have to be ready to receive it, either through the STUDY of his WORD or WHISPER of the SPIRIT, or the CALM ASSURANCE in devoted PRAYER. Funny, I didn’t hear him answer...because I didn’t spend time to RECEIVE it. I just can’t fake listening...and in turn, the challenges were more challenging, the decisions more difficult, the pain a bit more hurtful.

Deuteronomy 30:10-20a: “This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you LIFE and DEATH, BLESSINGS and CURSES. Now CHOOSE LIFE, so that you and your children may live and that you may LOVE the LORD, LISTEN TO HIS VOICE, and HOLD FAST to HIM.”

Heavenly Father, I want to listen. I want to hold fast to you. Remind me that to hear your voice and to hold fast to you requires that I RECEIVE the Holy Spirit. It is active participation in this communication process that you require. Help me to become a better listener, Lord, because I need your presence, your answers, and your peace so desperately in my world RIGHT NOW. But Lord, thank you that at this VERY moment, I can HEAR you. And Lord thank you that I can also hear the snores of my husband and the deep breaths of Boone. They are precious to me, Lord, please heal them, and help me to know how I can ease their pain. Amen.