Thursday, June 29, 2006

A Beautiful Valley View


This picture was taken 3 months ago when I spent 10 days in Israel with a group of great friends. This view of the Elah Valley--the place where David killed Goliath--was taken just at sunset, a breathtakingly beautiful time of the day in the Holyland. Though just a small boy, Davids' small size had absolutely nothing to do with the magnitude of his faith. Because of his unmovable faith in the Lord, David was able to achieve what he was able to believe. And so it is with us today. The same God that allowed David to defeat his insurmountable problem so long ago is standing nearby, waiting and wanting to perform sea-parting, mountain-moving and dead-arising miracles through us, if we'll only exercise what He's already given us--a measure of faith.

Without faith, nothing is possible. With it, nothing is impossible.

Monday, June 26, 2006

Z Z Top???


This shot was taken early Sunday morning in the 'Old City' area of Jerusalem, a place where the rich culture of all the people---Arabs, Muslems and Jews, is distinct and visible. The culture of this sect of Jews is quite fascinating. By the time they are 2-3 years old, even the little boys are taking on this distinguished appearance.

Sunday, June 25, 2006

Ishmael


Ishmael is a wonderful Jewish craftsman whom I had the pleasure of meeting when I was in Israel this past March. For 60+ years he has toiled daily, handcrafting shoes, in a tiny shop in 'the Old City'-- a huge marketplace in the heart of Jerusalem. From early morning until sunset he cuts , sews, measures and tacks, creating one of a kind shoes, one at a time. After we had visited for a while I asked for permission to photograph him and within a few minutes, I knew had made a new friend. We visited a while longer then, as I was telling him goodbye, he motioned for me to come closer as he reached into the back of a drawer, retrieving a ragged little drawstring pouch full of old coins. He handed me a coin, a 'widows mite,' then, with a twinkle in his eye, he began to tell me the story of the widow in the Bible who gave all she had, one mite, as a temple offering. Though she had nothing of monetary value, she had hope, faith, charity and such a spirit of selflessness she was willing to give her all. He went on to tell me that the coin in my hand was about 2,000 years old and when it was in circulation the population of Jerusalem was so sparse that chances are great that it was handled by one of the apostles or, maybe even Jesus Himself. My, what a wonderful gift. And what an honor to be blessed with something that may have once been in the hand of Jesus. I kept the coin for a few months, then I gave it to a wonderful friend whom, I believe, God specifically ordered our paths to cross in this journey of life. I hope he feels as honored as I was to receive this treasure.

(43) Verily I say unto you, That this poor widow hath cast more in , than all they which have cast into the treasury: (44) For all they did cast in of their abundance; but she of her want did cast in all that she had, even all her living. St. Mark 12:43-44

Friday, June 23, 2006

Faith, the Mighty Hallucinogen

Something I find most fascinating is the ability to visualize something on the inside that is not manifest on the outside. When you can envision something and it becomes so real to you that you are seeing things that are not there, it is often a sign that (a) you didn't take your medicine , or (b) there is something you see inside that comes from God. It is a sign that it is out there somewhere and that you, with His guidance, have the ability to accquire it.

Not everyone has the ability to see the invisible but, people who do are what I call visionaries. To me, they're giants in the kingdom. They are guides to those who don't exercise the same dimension of faith. When I see someone whose faith is so strong that they get excited about things that are not there, I watch them closely. That level of passion is often an alarm going off in the spirit that what seems impossible is about to be done. These visionaries are the real leaders of the world, men and women who see the invisible and do the impossible. I am not speaking of a conjured faith that comes from talking yourself into believing. I am speaking of a God-given gift of faith that enables you to see differently from others because you have been designated to lead the way to faith.

A prime example of this kind of faith is portrayed in the story of David and Goliath. Davids' small size had nothing to do with the magnitude of his faith. He had faith in himself and in God. He knew, in no uncertain terms, that God would give him the ability to slay Goliath. That kind of faith is Divine ennoblement. At a complete disadvantage--because of his small size and sub-standard equipment--David was still able to achieve what he was able to believe. David was the only man who could defeat Goliath because he was the only one who had the faith for it. He knew this was the place, a destiny place. This was for him a life-changing, pivotal point. Had he missed this opportunity, he would have spent the remainder of his life in the field, tending sheep. But, his compass was screaming like a fire alarm and he knew what he had to do. Goliath was a mile- marker on the road of his life and there was an inner voice saying--no, screaming--"Turn here!"

This is not the kind of faith that can be conferred or conjured. It cannot be achieved by focusing on a thought all day and using mind power. We see it countless times in the Bible---Gideon, Queen Esther and Noah all walked this path of faith. In more recent history we see it in Benjamin Franklin, Anne Sullivan, Martin Luther King, Jr and Nelson Mandela. They defied the odds and achieved greatness by following a vision, despite the doubts of others and obstacles that were in their way. They persevered by faith. They were remarkable, one of a kind. They weren't perfect but, rather, compass-carrying men and women who were able to see the invisible and therefore achieve the impossible.

When we ask ourselves, "What can I see that others cannot?" Whatever the answer is, that is what we have the power to attain.


"Faith is believing in a thing when common sense tells you not to."

Tuesday, June 20, 2006

Faith Training

Just as we must exercise our bodies, we also need to 'faith train' and I believe it is crucial to experience both success and failure in order to stretch the muscle of our faith. I thank God that I went through many of the things that I have because it has prepared me and strengthened me for this point in my life and for my future. I can use only what I have---no one elses workout will benefit my body and no one elses experiences can stretch my faith to a supernatural level. Like the message taught to old Doubting Thomas, for me, it is more blessed to believe without a touch than to have proof to believe. In spite of the huge obstacles that stand against me, I can still prevail because I have faith in God. I don't have to have a dime in my pocket, a friend on the phone, a contact in high places, or anything else before God moves in my behalf. All I have to do is follow some simple guidelines:

1. Possess it by faith: Know in my heart that it was meant to be.
2. Work out my faith: Have the tenacity to go through trials and tribulations before I attempt to deal with what I haven't trained for.
3. Natural Resistance requires Divine Assistance: To avoid the mistake of trusting unreliable people, promises, or statistics, I must count only on God.
4. Don't lose strength as weight is added: I must maintain my faith no matter what I face.
5. Acknowledge that today's battle is training me for a wonderful tomorrow: I must persevere through my trials, for they are training me for greater things. They will help perfect my faith.

I fully expect faith to take me to places I've never been, show me things I've never seen, and perform impossible, unimaginable, unbelievable miracles the like of which I've never seen. No matter what man says, no matter what my senses say, I trust that God will perform mightily.

For we walk by faith, not by sight. II Corinthians 5:7

Monday, June 19, 2006

Monday Morning Harvest


It rained all night....again, but, actually, I don't think it has stopped for more than a few minutes here and there since Saturday morning. So much for my plans of all day gardening for the next couple of days. But in spite of the rain, or maybe because of it, the harvest is pretty awesome. Early this morning I donned my clogs and waded out to find about a half gallon of luscious crimson strawberries just waiting to be rescued from the seemingly never-ending shower. What a delightful sight on a wet and dreary day. Now, if I just had a little champagne and whipped cream and, well, my favorite man with his guitar.....hmm.
My garden has turned out to be a pretty awesome place to commune with the Lord and while working there, I'm reminded of the law of the harvest---you'll reap what you've sown. It's just as evident in our spiritual lives as it is in this plot of soil in my yard. I dilligently pray that God gives me the desire and stamina to sow only the best seed because, well, harvesting weeds is too laborious, physically and spiritually.

Sunday, June 18, 2006

Faith and Promises

Though the Master's methods may fluctuate, His promises ultimately remain the same. God promised Abraham that He was going to bless his seed, and He did. When God makes a promise He always keeps His word. Our faith is the activator that moves God but, it is often required that we lay hold on the promise by acting on it in an aggressive way. We must go after it with total abandonment and commitment, armed with the knowledge that God's blessings don't necessarily come through the kindness or responsiveness of others. In fact, it is often in spite of a lack of others' kindness toward us that God performs the most mighty deeds. The miracle begins when we remove the training wheels of dependency on others and lean on Him, trusting that, regardless of how the situation appears, the impossible, unimaginable and incredible are going to happen in His time, because of our faith. It is then that we begin to see mountains move and seas part and the dead awaken.

God knows when my heart is broken and my spirit is crushed but, thankfully, He's taught me to develop an appetite for manna. I've learned to believe God for sustenance to survive the land of drought and famine that precedes the land of miracles. God supernaturally provided strength for the journey that He ordained the children of Israel to make and He will provide the same strength I need to make it from the valley to the mountain-top. Prosperity begins with strength for the journey. It goes far beyond surviving to thriving. But it starts with strength for the day. And just as He delivered the Israelites out of Egypt, so will He deliver us out of our current situation and into the land of promise, one day at a time---in His time. What a God. What a wonderful, merciful God.

Saturday, June 17, 2006

Fitting The Pieces Together

Once again, I procrastinated with a project I lent myself to so, for about 4 hours last night I was lost in yards and yards of luscious white silk, adding the final details to a wedding gown I created for a friend. And, once again, I told myself I will never again, never ever, find myself frantically putting on the finishing touches at, literally, the midnight hour. But the beauty of the silk and the purity of the whiteness caused me to reflect on just what this occasion is all about, so, I took a break from sewing and hastily composed a few thoughts. Nothing profound or soul stirring, just simple thoughts from a simple mind. So, here it is.

Just like me, many of us are damaged. Like the clay spoken about in Jeremiah 18, we are marred. But God, in His infinite grace, allows us the opportunity to mend in His hands. He applies His touch and stretches us beyond our past so that we can have a wonderful future. And He wants us to have someone special to share this future with. So we wait for Mr./Ms. Right. And we wait, and we wait. We wait as our frustrations grow and we begin to doubt that there is a special one out there for us. So we spend a little time with Mr./Ms. Right Now and Mr./Ms. Okay for Now and Mr./Ms. Too Good To Be True. Then we give Mr./Ms. Almost and Mr./Ms. Pretty Close a try but, the more we get to know them, the farther from ideal they seem. They turn us off because of their imperfections, but if we're really honest with ourselves, we're light years from perfect too.So, it seems to me that life is very much like a puzzle, and we, at least I, am one of the pieces that has fallen on the floor. Some of the pieces have been stepped on, while some have been lost for a while then carelessly kicked under the couch. But amid the oddly shaped fragments, there are two that were designed to fit each other. They do not fit because they are perfect. They fit because they are perfect for each other. They fit because the odd shape of one nests perfectly in the curvature of the other. Apart, they are two pieces without any definition, but when they come together they complement each other and take on meaning.

This is the joy of a Godly union. It is not a celebration of sex. It is not about merging incomes and assets and worldly possessions. It is the coming together of two souls lost on the sea of reality. Over time, they drifted far from the ideal but, when they find each other and embrace, they become mutual life preservers, keeping each other afloat. They're like two small bubbles in the midst of a raging sea. They hold on to each other, making love, making memories and making each other feel complete. They know they must stay close to The Captain of the sea lest they drift into troubled waters. So they cling together like a three ply cord--he, she, and the Captain. Together, they sail... never fearing what lies ahead. And in fact, together they are ideal.

Friday, June 16, 2006

Marvelous Grace

I spent the day with a very close friend yesterday and, in the course of general conversation, she asked me, "How do we combine our separate and unique perspectives and create a harmonious blend that is appealing, satisfying and well, just feels 'right?' Well, I believe, that there is a very special ingredient simply called 'grace' that must be added to the mix. It bandages the souls of wounded people and allows the broken-hearted to develop Godly strategies to escape their past. It gives strength to those who struggle to make functional what has historically been dysfunctional. Grace renews the heart and reconciles the troubles of a tortured spirit. It is kindness and forgiveness. It causes us to keep on loving when the receipient turns the other way. It is the favor of God, and as He bestows it on us, we should in turn give it to those who so desperately need our compassion and love.
We are all broken, and we must learn to accept and then help mend the brokeness of others. In the Book of Hosea, God tells the prophet to marry Gomer, the prostitute. She is a promiscuous woman who disgraced herself and her family. She was abused and battered, she was tattered and torn. She was broken. She ran away from Hosea, but he still wanted her. He could have said, "This woman hurt me, she humiliated me, she failed me." He could have left her on the auction block. But, instead, he call after her, "Gomer...my Beloved." He empties his pockets to redeem her. Hosea's name means "salvation," and he, and his grace, saves Gomer.
Hosea's undying love for Gomer's broken life should give hope to the most severely damaged among us that there is healing for the broken places in the human spirit. If we are to have successful relationships that gradually develop wholeness, we must understand that we must love and extend grace to imperfect, flawed people, be it our mate or other relationship. We must follow Hosea's example. We must educate ourselves and not only in spite of our past, but because of our past work hard to create and nurture a relationship that will act as a support system and safety net as we endeavor to attain success in every area of our lives. We must follow the Lord. As He loves and unconditionally accepts us imperfect beings, so, too, are we to love and accept those who so desperately need to experience His grace.

Thursday, June 15, 2006

Ain't Nobody Like Him


While trodding down the path of discovery, aimlessly searching for who I am, I finally realized that it is He who knows who I really am and Whose love has finally convinced me that it doesn't matter if I ever know. His grace is greater than my stumbling, stammering humanity. I acknowledge that I've always been exceptionally strong in some places and pitifully frail in others, absolutely certain about one thing and completely stressed about another. In spite of my numerous weaknesses, He has always comforted and blessed me and, to be totally honest, blessing me is like painting a Picasso on a dollar store canvas. Amazing how He does His best work with such inferior materials.
When He does decided to bless me---be it spiritually, physically or financially---boy does He ever! I have no doubt that all I've ever accomplished in life is simply a matter of His divine favor. He's the best financial advisor, secret-keeper, personal counselor and emotional stabilizing influence I could ever know. He's given me tips on people, places, things, and even stocks. I marvel at the manner in which He's calmed the raging storms of my life. Mercy, what a God.
My faith in Him is fixed, my faith in me is growing, and my gratitude is too overwhelming to articulate in such a small span of life and with my limited linguistic ability. To attempt to express my feelings for Him is an intimidating undertaking. Exasperated by the efforts, I will succomb to a simplistic term to convey the depth of my love, gratitude and undying devotion. Although it is simply stated, it is nonetheless of profound significance to me: There ain't nobody like the 'On-Time God.'