Category Archives: God’s character

One Fine Day

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Meeting IsaacHere in Florida, we’re all getting to know our new little relative, Isaac. Linnea and Adam decided to give him a strong biblical name just like his brother Micah, but since he’s their 4th child in 5 years, a little joyful laughter seemed appropriate too, and Isaac means laughter. He represents the opposite of sadness, and all of us are thrilled to be in that happy place with him today.

Of course there are strenuous days ahead, especially for a mommy managing so many young ones. I recall reading a book by the Duggar family (19 children) in which the mother wrote that her most difficult year was when her children were aged 5 and under. The oldest wasn’t old enough to give more than nominal help, and running errands, keeping house, and making sure everyone was fed and rested was the challenge of a lifetime.

Big sister and baby brotherToday, though, as we study little Isaac and watch his siblings begin to shape relationships with him, giggles and laughter punctuate his home. This is the day the Lord has made, and we are rejoicing with gladness in it. (Psalm 118:24) Today it’s all good: no sibling rivalry, no burdensome errands, and no pre-dinner meltdowns. Not today.

Instead Isaac is giving us a lesson in loving the here-and-now.

As I hold him and look into his brand new little face, I see how miraculously he’s been put together and sense how grand it is that we get to be part of his life story.

On this glad day, Birgitta texted me a wonderful quote from Charles Dickens: “It is not a slight thing when those so fresh from God love us.”

And as I’ve marveled over Isaac, that thought has been exactly what’s been rolling around in my mind but couldn’t assemble itself into a sentence. His relatives already love him dearly, but when a baby joins a family, something else is born too: the potential that he will love others one day too, which is, as Dickens wrote, not a slight thing. It’s something fresh from God.

Love, love, loveAlthough I’m unsure of where a soul is before God begins the work of knitting a baby together within a womb, Dickens may have had it right.

Scripture tells us love initiates with God, so it makes sense that as he “handled” the minuscule beginnings of little Isaac, he steadily infused love into his young heart and soul all along the way. Isaac will be able to both give and receive love in unlimited ways, and in God’s manner of math, that will mean a steady increase in the love surrounding him.

It’ll be love, love, and more love, exactly as God intended. ???????????????????????????????And so on this day, I’m thankful to have been lovingly tutored by someone who’s only 2 days old.

And yes indeed, it’s been one fine day.

“Let us continue to love one another, for love comes from God… Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.” (1 John 4:7-8)

Melting the Ice

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???????????????????????????????We in the Midwest continue to experience temperatures far lower than the inside of my food freezer in the basement. Every time I walk Jack, I “hear the snow crunch…” (to quote a popular song). It’s that special sound a sub-zero snow pack makes beneath my boots. But the neighborhood is striking in its winter attire and begs me to run back home for my camera.

Icicle HansSome of winter’s best visuals can be the icicles hang- ing from people’s houses. I remember our children orchestrating sword fights with 4 foot long ones and pleading with me to store bunches of icicles in our freezer for summertime fun.

One year an energetic eight-year-old “planted” rows of straight-up icicles all over the yard, which resembled a sparkling crystal garden. Another winter we made use of smaller icicles as ice cubes in our cold drinks. The refrigerator had died, and while we were shopping for a new one, icicle stir-sticks worked perfectly.

Mega-icicleThis winter, we can boast an icicle to end all icicles. It hangs from the upper corner of our front porch to the ground, a length of about 11 feet. Thirteen inches across at the top, it is absolutely gorgeous, and today I spent time studying it.

I don’t understand how water can melt in order to form icicles when the thermometer reads -10, but drip by drip this once-tiny icicle grew into a massive one. Such slow, steady growth can be a picture of the way other life-buildups can occur, too, such as the subtle way a good relationship can become frosty, little by little.

Small negatives can start to obstruct a friendship, for example, the way a tiny bit of ice clogs a drain pipe. Though the damage isn’t immediately visible, it forms the base-layer for further buildup. Drip, freeze, drip, freeze.

Icicle LinneaIncident upon incident causes increasing blockage until the rapport between two people has become frozen. Eventually others see it too, and suddenly we wonder how such an icy atmosphere was able to build up between us.

God wants us to act warmly toward each other and will never leave us out in the cold. Instead, he’ll take one of two approaches to thaw icy relationships. Either he’ll melt them slowly with the words of Scripture, or he’ll whack the ice down in one fell swoop.

Neighbors have told me I should use a shovel to knock the icicles off my gutters, since they’re heavy and can do permanent damage. Frozen friendships feel heavy, too, and sometimes swift intervention (i.e. a whack) is the only way to begin warming the affections between two people.

PuddleHowever God does it, we do know he wants us to act lovingly toward one another. And just like the warmth of spring will eventually melt our giant icicle, so the breath of God’s Spirit will melt the ice between two people…. every time.

“The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life.” (Job 33:4)

Flights of Imagination

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???????????????????????????????When I recall my early teen years, I remember that I was often a brat. For example, one day my dad was pacing through the house with a frown on his face, stressed about something at work. In a most inconsiderate way I said, “Dad, you shouldn’t worry about stuff. The Bible says it’s a sin, so you’re committing sin every time you worry.”

I don’t remember his exact response, but at 14, I figured I knew more than he did and walked away thinking I’d delivered the wisdom of the ages. Since then, however, I’ve learned a great deal about worry. First, God doesn’t want us to do it (I had the right idea about that), but second, it can dominate a person anyway, day and night, for weeks at a time.

Recently I’ve worried about a couple of matters to the point of concocting fantasies of worst-case-scenarios. Then I’ve let those imaginary scenes torment me as if they were actually real, especially during the night.

While sharing this with daughter Linnea last week she said, “Mom, God doesn’t give grace to cover our tomorrows or our yesterdays, only our todays.” Of course I knew that, but I hadn’t heard it put quite that way. I’ve repeated that sentence to myself frequently since then, whenever my mind leans into future fantasies.

Frosty windowThen last night as I climbed into bed, I noticed the sub-zero frost outside the window just inches from my pillow. After unrelenting snow and wind for 5 days straight, frosty crystals had formed on the glass next to a ledge of snow, reminding me it was a frigid -16 degrees outside. But I didn’t worry about it. I knew I wouldn’t freeze to death in my sleep, even though the glass was thin, very breakable, and ice-cold to the touch.

How come?

Because my experience has been that windows keep out the weather. So when I slipped under my down blanket, I believed I’d be cozy throughout the night. There was no fantasy about my family finding me frozen to death with a layer of snow covering my stiff body. I had faith in my window.

So why is it so difficult to have faith in God? Since I’ve had plenty of experience with his sufficiency, why can’t I live in my todays without fabricating disasters for my tomorrows?

Son Nelson gave me another helpful quote, this one from Corrie ten Boom: “Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow. It empties today of its strength.” Through harsh worry-experience, I’ve learned the truth of that.

BarricadesOur spiritual enemy, Satan, wants us to turn from trusting God to trusting our fears (and fearful fantasies). When I let myself get caught up worrying, I’ve pleased the devil and have (as C.S.Lewis says) “barricaded my mind against God.” That’s the last thing I want to do!

So tonight as I crawl under the covers, I’m going to let that ice-covered window serve as my reminder to trust in God, not in foolish fantasies.

“Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)