In the Fog

The other day Steve and I walked on the bluffs above the beach, and he took this photo. I like it because of the fog. I've always loved fog, at least the physical, cloudy stuff. But mental and spiritual fog I don't care for much. When I first came to know the Lord, my mind was clouded with confusion, doubt, bitterness and uncertainty. Fog can exaggerate some things and camouflauge others. Objects hide in the mist. This was the way my soul felt when I began to read God's word and understand his ways - I needed a lot of help clarifying the parameters of my thinking.  Slowly, he set my thoughts in order, gave me a sense of perspective. As Kathryn mentioned in her post last week, an eternal perspective.

One thing I've learned from living by the ocean most of my life is that sunshine burns away fog. When the day warms up, the clouds usually dissipate. Sometimes we go along and run into a spiritual fog bank. This can happen to even the oldest Christians, and not necessarily because of some wrongdoing - often the trials of life simply leave us not knowing for sure which direction to take.

I am so thankful that we can trust God even when we don't fully understand what is happening in our lives. Paul tells us in Colossians 3 to focus on things above - on things eternal. In eternity I don't think there will be any fog - just the shining light of God's love.

I miss you all - and pray you have a blessed new year - Barbara

Last one for Kathryn

This is my last Vine Life blog post.

I need to say "no" to some good things - like this blog - to say "yes" to the best things.

I need to focus on strengthening my relationship with Tom, my husband. Twenty years into our marriage, I am still learning how to love. I am thankful for Tom's integrity and determination, Biblical marriage counseling, and God's promise to complete His work in us. I want to do my part in protecting and building our marriage.

I have heard the pastors of StoneBridge mention several times recently that some marriages in our church are really suffering. I have been praying a lot about that. Now I need to do something to strengthen my own marriage. Ladies, I would encourage you to do the same. Pray for the marriages of our church! Pray for your own marriage (if you are married). And obey God in whatever He tells you as you pray.

For me and Tom, there's no crisis. We're just a mess and always have been. A long time ago someone told us that Tom and I share a conscientiousness and an eternal perspective that have held us together. Praise God. I'd just like more of the glue holding us together to be fun memories, holding hands, walking the dog together, and serving in the Kingdom side by side.

So it's time for more of that. And it will happen according to His grace.

- Kathryn Truden




P.S. I have really enjoyed contributing to this blog! I hope you all will continue to read the musings of your sisters in Christ. They encourage me so much.

i am...

"the words 'i am' are potent words; be careful what you hitch them to.

the thing you're claiming has a way of reaching back and claiming you."

[-AL Kitselman]

i've thought a lot over the past few days and weeks about identity. how do i identify myself? we all long to belong somewhere - to have family, to have community, to be loved as we are. that is why the redemption story is so powerful [well, that's part of the reason]. and all of this identity stuff seems to come up this time of year. or at least it does in my world. 

i think it's because of two particular things. 1 - you're either seeing family or you're not, and since family is part of our holiday tradition in our culture it doesn't really matter which side of that coin you're on, it makes you think about your identity, and where you find your identity. and 2 - the new year is coming, and that makes everyone think of resolutions, and where they are [or more appropriately who they are] currently, and how they want to change over the course of the next trip around the sun.

we identify ourselves in so many different ways. and sometimes we get stuck in one identity, and we cannot seem to get out of it. 

this time of year though, i come back to the fact that Jesus became a man, a baby, so he could rescue us. so he could identify with us, and we with him. he was infinite, and became finite. he constrained himself so that we could know him. so that we could know his father. our father.

so that we could identify ourselves as children of the king. on this earth i am many things to many people, but for eternity, i am a child of God. how then should children of God live?

because that is our true identity.

yes, family matters. truth matters. people matter. 

but who we are in Christ. we are redeemed. we are loved. just as we are.

and when we don't know anything else, when we're not certain of anything else,

we can be sure of that.

much love to you this christmas!

katie

BE A Blessing!

"And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing."  Genesis 12:2

As some of you may know, I have a small jewelry business.  I spend hours and hours and hours designing and making jewelry and then almost as many hours at shows selling my jewelry.  Some shows are a great success and some are, by earthly measures, a complete flop.  I learned early on, there has to be something bigger than a dollar amount that makes this worthwhile.  But sometimes I forget...

This past weekend I tried a new show in the Asheville area. My mom took time off work and drove up to help me.  We left on Thursday afternoon and didn't return until Sunday evening.  I missed my family and one of my favorite annual markets, but I had been so drawn to do this show that I was certain it was where I was supposed to be.

But the weekend didn't live up to my expectations...  Some would say it was pretty much a flop...  People weren't attending and the ones who came just weren't buying...  By Saturday afternoon, I was fed up...  I wanted to leave...  I wanted to be home with my husband...  Or catching up with our kids... Or shopping with my mom...  anywhere but sitting on a stool in a large, cold building bored to tears!

But none of the circumstances stopped my mom...  On Friday, she made her way around the venue and she took the time to get to know some of the people.  She listened to their stories, she purchased some of their creations, she offered words of encouragement...  On Saturday, she made her rounds to say hello and check on them...  She was being a blessing to so many people.

No doubt I'm over-simplifying God's promise to Abram, but I think there is such a practical application for us, in our day to day lives, as demonstrated by my mother...  We should intentionally be waiting and watching for opportunities to be a blessing to others.

God told Abram that He would bless him, so that he (Abram) would be a blessing to others.  But how often do I squander my blessings on myself?  Or do I miss an opportunity to bless another because I'm grumpy when things don't go my way?  Or too busy?  Or too focused on my own agenda?  Plain and simple, we are to be a blessing to others because that reflects the love, grace and mercy of Jesus to a world who is so starved and thirsty to know Him.

As I watched my mom this weekend, I started watching for my own opportunities to bless others...  And in the process, I was overwhelmed with God's great blessings...  Not because He brought a huge sale at the last minute, but just because I met some of the nicest people and He showed me ways to be a blessing to them (I think it's more fun to BE a blessing than to GET a blessing!).  

Things aren't always going to turn out like we plan, but it doesn't have to mean it's a waste of time or a failure...  It can still be an opportunity to bless others.

So during this Christmas season, as we celebrate our greatest blessing ever, Jesus Christ, let's slow down and take time to be a blessing to others.  In fact, let's commit to start each day with a prayer asking God to give us HIS heart to bless others!

Happy Blessing!
Sharla

All Wrapped Up in Christmas

If you are anything like me, all too often I get wrapped up in the details of Christmas and forget the big picture.  This is true for most of us.  On the radio the other day, I heard the DJs talking about 'Holiday Card Etiquette.'  It was a funny conversation about obligations to send cards, receiving cards, demographics (evidently single and old people aren't required to send cards), etc.  It's funny that everyone has their own set of 'rules' for many of the traditions of Christmas.

Because of our 'rules,' it's interesting what expectations we place on people, events, charities, church and Christmas Day itself.  Do you ever find yourself disappointed because someone left you off 'the list,' or frustrated at all the events you have to attend, or disillusioned because a charity wasn't that charitable, or irritated at the way the church did the Christmas Eve service, or aggravated at family and friends because Christmas Day wasn't what you planned?  I think in some large or small way, I have been guilty of each of these expectations.

However, I believe that God would want us to remember that the greatest expectation came to fruition when Jesus came as the Messiah of all mankind.  We know that the Magi brought gifts to Christ but He also brought gifts to the world: love, grace, mercy, peace, hope and joy.  This season I am going to attempt to unwrap my Christmas expectations.  Instead I am going to try make most of the things on my to-do list giving the gifts Jesus gave: love, grace mercy, peace, hope and joy.   

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