Leap Day of Faith

Psalm 90:12 "So teach us to number our days, that we may present to Thee a heart of wisdom."


February is the shortest month, only 28 days. Wow! What just happened? I just packed up my Christmas stuff!  March sweeps in to cheer us and bless us after we were loved on by February.

---and all those mattress sales for President's Day!   

Time flies, an idiom all too many of us can relate to.  

We've been given a gift this year; February of 2020 is a Leap Year. An extra day is added to the calendar "to slow down and synchronize the calendar year with the seasons. Leap days were first added to the Julian Calendar in 46 B.C. by Julius Caesar at the advice of Sosigenes, an Alexandrian astronomer." (Earthsky.org). 

As I walked outside tonight, thoughtful and prayerful, but yet still leaving to run an errand, busyness--I paused in awe of the heavens and all its glory. 

That is the juxtaposing moments of life: moving, checking things off real or virtual lists, preparing, working and then relaxing, pondering, being entertained. You know your own day, the planned and sometimes the unplanned. 

The Psalmist asks the Father first, to teach us. We make time in our schedule where we sit under the anointed sharing and applying of His Word. God set aside the Sabbath day, or for most, Sundays for corporate worship. Spending  time with God in my morning drive, in my afternoon conversations and in my evening prayers as well as being reminded of truth in His word is essential for me in my everyday commitment to grow and know Him. Yet, there are those days... 

I pray to be teachable everyday, to be in His Word so that I can have that wisdom in my heart when I need it, when time stands still, when time runs out, when time isn't an option. 

Then the Psalmist says..."teach me to number my days." Well, don't we do this with a calendar, now on our phones and readily available? The Psalmist seems to know and in his wisdom is asking God to help him make the best out of each day, for he knows his time is short as compared to eternity. 

In Psalm 39:4 it states it this way, "Lord, make me know my end and what is the extent of my days. Let me know how transient I am." 

If the calendar gave us one extra day this month, sort of like "more time," I'd hope to use it to better myself, gain more wisdom, recognize my weak, transient ways and more importantly, where my everyday strength comes from. In other words, an extra day to give Him praise and seek His will. 

"If I just had one more day..." 

Think how you might end that sentence. We cannot live victoriously in Christ with regrets. Jesus Christ, on that one day ordained for Him to die and on the third day promised and fulfilled that promise when He conquered all of time and eternity, rising from the dead. He gave us a gift of eternity free from regrets. If we recognize and ponder on this marvelous gift, how much of our time is spent in wanting to know Him more and do His will, give Him the praise He so deserves? How much of our time is wasted? 

Lord, time is fleeting. Our days are numbered. Moments are precious with loved ones and friends. Sometimes, I feel I am in catch-up mode for those times wasted. Lord, I know that You can do exponential things in a heart that humbly submits and seeks Your goodness. You redeem all our days! Lord, help us all to take a "Leap of Faith" and lay down some of our busyness, our apathy and our self-righteous attitudes that we just "don't have time." A sacrificial heart is one You delight in. May my days reflect Your goodness and grace in each day You have given me to make Your Name known.Thank You for my hard days and my glory days, Lord, for both, teach me Your wisdom and empower me with Your strength as my days draw nearer to seeing You, face to face. Amen. 

Morning Glory 

The Wonder of it All!

Psalm 9:1 I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart; I will tell of all Thy wonders.

The seasons take their sweet time coming upon us here in the Southland. Fall seems to be officially here when the Halloween candy disappears and the pyramid display of Mrs. Cubbison's stuffing is teetering at the entrance of every favorite grocery store.  

Just once I'd like to...nah...

This week the sun shined bright and a few records were set in the high 80's and even the 90's. Finally, Friday felt like fall.  I missed snapping a picture, but the leaves piled everywhere on campus; thick and rustling underfoot. I thought of my good friend and co-worker traveling back to Indianapolis this week, supporting her daughter and our high school band and color guard at the National's, the major high school band competition. Christina and her husband took some time to see "fall" in the midwest (or is that back east?) and she sent me this picture. 

My niece who attends ASU in Tempe, sent me this desert perspective of the Arizona sky. 

  

Capturing the full moon last night, a glowing ring around it and a smattering of clouds starting to form, a promise of sprinkles made me hope for more. My skin begs for it.   

Today, while leaving campus, the trees clapping and shedding, blackbirds swooping in, unafraid of teenagers, I looked to the Heavens and captured this moment. 

A lesson in a short, beautifully depicted video shared this week in one class, benign of any deep spiritual stand (for that could not happen), encouraged one to look at all that surrounds and take in the WONDER, the specialness. Let's be intentional in recognizing that every day, every moment for some...for all of us, lies a gift. God in His Word said it very clear, "Be still, and known that I am God." 

I agree. While some seemed amazed by this "revelation," this inspirational wisdom, it only confirmed to me what I already know and soak in everyday through God's Word.  No cinemotographer scripted this.  God's Word says it loud and clear. 

Gratefulness births peace. 

Thanksgiving heals. 

Everyday miracles around us, humbles.

The Heavens declare His Glory

And in His Wonders, I bring Worship.  

Thank you Lord, that peace, healing, humbleness, and true worship comes in fluttering fall leaves and the chipper of a blackbird, in the swirling orange sherbert and angel contrails of a desert sky, in the moonbeam reflection of a nightime canvas painted by Your hands, and in the promise of a soaking of Your love, billowed up in graceful clouds framing Your Light, the Light in which I count my blessings and tell of Your Wonders.  Amen. 

Sanctuary

Psalm 134:2 "Lift up your hands to the sanctuary, and bless the Lord."

Planting my sunflower garden out my kitchen window,  I stand, sipping my coffee, speaking to the Lord in quiet summer morning reflection. This week, the sunflowers began to open up and I was daily inspired by their faces of glory coming from a little black and white seed. Each day, I've tried to capture a picture, and an inspirational thought to encourage myself and others.



Living in California, our seasons do not fluctuate with such profound definition as other parts of the country. We stay dry, breezy, and temperate; sometimes we'll get an occasional rumble of the earth under your feet. The summer season brings back many memories for all of us, vacation trips with family, sunset beach strolls, camp, and neighborhood gatherings and reunions-- family time. 



SUNFLOWERS.  
THE summer flower, stretching up so quickly and bursting at every branch with buds and promise. The bees gathering their nectar, the beetles taking refuge under the leaves, the praying mantis looking for sustenance, the large leaves like hands lifted up; such diversity and promise. It reminds me of  THE CHURCH, the one Christ left for us to serve in, the Body of Christ. That's what it is, a worship place, a sanctuary out my kitchen window.



Do you have such a place?

Are you dry, blowing here and there with the wind?

steady temperature...

neither hot nor cold?

Unmoving, dormant, infested...

Will you lose your balance if your world decides to tremor?

When was the last time you lifted your hands in complete surrender to Him, trusting in the seeds planted in your heart?

Today in my own struggles and prayer, God brought one verse to mind, one I treasure always as God's wise counsel:

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not unto your own understanding, but in all your ways acknowlege Him and He will make your paths straight."
Proverbs 3:5-6.

I trust when I planted that seed that a sunflower will arise;
 mighty, tall, and glorious-- all it's parts, all working together to delight me.

...but I did have to bury it, water it, even plant a stake or two. Growing a Sanctuary is a team effort.

God and me. 

Now, I stand among them, hands lifted in worship to the Creator, in a Sanctuary of Praise.

God gives me a season, I praise Him for His Church in which I can serve and I lift my hands to His glory and promise. 

Your season?

Right now. 

Plant yourself in His Sanctuary. Lift your hands with others, learning, growing, --sometimes needing stakes and bug spray-- worshippers.  One day, He will gather up His bundle of Sunflowers, and take His Bride Home. 

Bless the Lord.