Monday, August 25, 2008

Me and My Shadow

One of the first poems I remember my dad reading to me was "My Shadow," by Robert Lewis Stevenson.  As I grew, my cousins and I would play shadow tag during the summer months as a fun twist on an old game.  And who doesn't remember all the fun that Peter Pan had with his shadow?  

With all my childhood background with shadows, perhaps it's not surprising that one of my favorite Bible passages is Psalm 91.  Its first verse, "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty," has been particularly meaningful to me and is one that I have prayed for numerous people when they have been in difficult situations.  

As I've been thinking more about shadows, however, I thought about one simple difference that can make a shadow something to be desired or something to be feared . . . who, or what, is making it.  As much fun as shadows were in a game of tag, they proved to be equally if not more terrifying whenever I went to bed and saw them through my bedroom.  Shadows, by very definition, are dark and cold and often distort a picture of reality.  There is a very fine line between a sweet shade and a scary shadow.  

When I thought of that in the context of Psalm 91, it gave the chapter a new meaning.  Verse 4 says that "He will cover you with His feathers and under His wings you will find refuge . . ."  Being under some large wings in a shadow sounds like it can be a pretty dark and lonely place to be IF one were to forget who was making the shadow.  If I looked back at the times when I've most often prayed this prayer it was during some of the scariest and darkest times that I've known.  I desperately called out to God for protection and help.  Resting in that shadow didn't always make things magically brighter or better, but it did provide me with indescribable comfort as I realized the darkness was not something to be feared, but a shade provided by my Heavenly Father.  Once again, darkness isn't bad if you know from where it's coming.

And so I have a great, big shadow that goes in and out with me.  And what can be the use of Him is far more than I can see. (That last part is for you, Dad.) :-)

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Dreamin and Cruisin

Friday was a pretty special day for me.

1.  My amazing husband surprised me with an incredible picnic in honor of completing our thank you cards.  It may seem silly, but since my Freshman year in high school, I've dreamed of one day having a picnic with my husband using a "real-live" picnic basket.  (Thanks to Caroline who gave us this wonderful gift complete with little salt and pepper shakers!)  It was a beautiful day at a beautiful park and even some ants came along to make the the time even more idyllic.

2.  Friday night was the annual Berkley Cruisefest that coincides with the Woodward Dream Cruise each August.  Last year, I participated in the first community outreach that COTK did for the Cruisefest.  It was the first time I participated in something for COTK.  A week after that, I got engaged.  This year, a man came up to me at the Cruisefest rather excitedly and said, "Hi there!  Do you remember me?"  I think he could see the blank stare on my face because he continued, "Last year I met you here when you gave me a bottle of water," and honestly, I remembered this sweet older man that I met when we talked about Jesus, church, and the pastor that I was dating.  As I nodded my head, he looked at me expectantly and asked, "Well . . . did you marry him?!?"  I giggled and introduced him to my husband.  

Both circumstances served as mini-altars to remind me of the incredible faithfulness of God.  Our dreams, big and small, are anything but insignificant to Him and He has an amazing way of fulfilling them sometimes when we least expect it.  Clearly there are some difficult times when we truly are walking by faith, trusting in that faithfulness rather than experiencing it to its fullness.  But it seems like the darker those moments, the sweeter the taste of His promises, mainly because He has changed me in the process.  May you taste His goodness today in whatever season you may find yourself.

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Faith-full Living

I've been reading through 2 Kings over these past few weeks, spending a lot of time reading about one of my favorite Biblical characters, Elisha.  During our Team Retreat we spent a lot of time reading about faith in God's Word and what that means in our lives.  I couldn't help but think of Elisha as his life was such a picture of living with an understanding of who God was and what He was doing.  You get the idea that nothing really surprised him because nothing was outside God's realm of possibility.  

Some of my favorite Elisha moments:
  • 2 Kings 2.23-25 - Let's just say that I've always had to think twice before making any comments to my father about his hair (or lack of it).
  • 2 Kings 4.8-37 - This story is one that has had a profound impact on my life for many years now.  I can blog more about this later.  That Shunammite woman, though, was pretty special.
  • 2 Kings 4.40 - I think this is one of the funniest verses in the Bible.  I say it with great enthusiasm and dramatic angst.  "Oh man of God!  There is death in the pot!"  Who says the Bible isn't applicable today?
  • 2 Kings 6.18-23 - Reminds me of the Heavenly perspective that I need to have in the midst of Earthly situations.  "Those who are with us are more than those who are with them."  May my blinded eyes see, too.
  • 2 Kings 13.20-21 - This is, I think, one of the most remarkable stories, and it doesn't even get its own subject heading.  It's just casually placed in the middle of another narrative.  "Oh, by the way, Elisha had such a powerful measure of God's Spirit in his life that after he died, even his bones brought men back to life."  Can you imagine how much fun that man had going back to his friends after they threw him in that cave?  "Hey guys!  How ya' doin?  So you didn't want to bother burying me correctly, huh?"  Wild.
What kind of legacy will be left with my life?  May I receive an even greater measure of God's Spirit and presence that it will truly be one faith-full life.

COTK Team Retreat

Just got back from our COTK Team Retreat last night.  This has been a tradition since the very beginning of Church of the King, but was my first one!  Apparently it was at last year's retreat that Brad first shared with the team his "top secret" plan to propose.  It was thereafter referred to as "his cell phone plan."  How fun to see the cell phone plan now in full operation. :-)

It was a wonderful time to get to know the leadership team better and full of laughter, prayer, beating of drums at the earliest hours of the morning (band camp was also there . . . couldn't help but think of Heart of Darkness) and ultra-competitive games of Mafia.  

There were many sweet moments of prayer and bonding that I'll be building on for a while.  One of the most significant parts of the retreat for this girl, however, happened yesterday afternoon around 1:30 PM, right before we left.  Jim and Maria Zufall's card was addressed.  That was the last thank you card. :-) I am so thankful for the many gifts and blessings we received and so thankful that these are done! :-) Yay Seabiscuit.  Maybe I should treat myself to an extra carrot today? :-)