No Boasting , Please!

   I wrote yesterday, somewhat in fear and trembling, of my prayer for the assurance of God's presence in my quiet moments. I did not fear telling the story, but from the fact that it might appear to be boasting of something that was mine alone. I am humbled by the idea that the Creator of the Universe, might take the time to hear my prayer and to respond, in love and grace, to that request, and I realize that it is something that He wishes to have with each person.

   So my prayer this morning was that He would give me confidence that I had indeed heard and that it was not just wishful thinking on my part. Also that I could write about it all and not come across as prideful in any way, just grateful.

   I opened the Psalms, as usual, and here is the message from there in Psalm 75:

   "I say to the boastful, ‘Do not boast,’
and to the wicked, ‘Do not lift up your horn;

do not lift up your horn on high,
or speak with haughty neck.’”

   My feeling exactly, and I surely don't want to be classed in that category, but if I write about this experience, will it appear that way, even if deep down, I don't want it to be? Maybe I should just keep it all to myself and thank God for the time and the experience.

   Then I looked for something in the Gospel reading to help me know what to do or how to approach this problem. From Mark, chapter 5, Jesus words to the man healed of the unclean spirits:

   "“Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” 

   He told him to go and tell what had happened to him. It seems that I should not be ashamed to say what God has done for me, so I will. I will try to write in humility, without a trace of boasting.

   Then the verse from my favorite hymn comes to mind:

   I will not boast in anything
No gifts, no power, no wisdom
But I will boast in Jesus Christ
His death and resurrection

   If there is boasting to be done, let it be in Jesus Christ and what He has done, for me for sure, and for everyone who believes on His Name.

   Amen

Is It Really..?

   Perhaps it is a crutch, but the first item on my agenda, as I wake up in the morning to study, is to open the Examen website and select the part to read. Although this is different each day according to the way the site has been constructed, before the reading comes to the front, I am prompted to pray a simple prayer for guidance and for clarity in this time of listening to the Words of Scripture. Somehow, I find that the very act of writing out a prayer to God is the part that God really speaks in.

   Now I am not a prayer warrior, and most of the time when I sit in a prayer meeting, large or small, my mind has a great difficulty staying focused on the moment, but when I begin to write out my prayer thoughts, the focus is much easier. So, as I have done it, I find that my thoughts in prayer are more "real", they are more me and therefore more of my heart and less of "just what is done".

   Why do I think of all that this morning?

   Here is part of it from just a few minutes earlier, not for me to boast about, but to copy in humility, of what I feel down deep that God has allowed me to see.

   "God, when I realize that You are active in waking me up, that You want me to be here, I am truly thankful. I know that when I get up out of warm bed in a cold room, and when I am truly thankful to spend this quiet time, looking forward with anticipation, to the coming minutes, You are in it."

   Some could say, a simple coincidence, but I say it is an acknowledgment by God Himself, that this time is important, that He does care that I try to meet with Him and receive His Word.

   It is not that I make a great sacrifice to sit here when I could be sleeping, and I am not boastful about it, but this morning it just seemed to be the thing that I should write about and not hide.

   So I got up, opened the website, wrote out my prayer, feeling that it was really my heart's prayer at this moment, and then moved on to the Psalm reading. After reading Psalm 95 and 69, nothing really held my attention. Then I felt as if God prompted me to go back and read it all again. I would digress to say that most times I will read the Psalm passage, then if nothing strikes me, I will move on to the Gospel reading and if I still don't see anything, I will go on to the Moravian Text for this particular day. I know that if I stay at it long enough, I will see something that is meant for me that day.

   But not today, I go back and read through the Psalm verses, and I see this verse right away:

   "Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;"

   It is as though God, first of all, wanted me to listen to the encouragement to go back and read again, and then to use this verse as an impetus to share my heart.

   When the last thing that I think about at night is (maybe it is a prayer) that I need to get up by 6 in order to have adequate time to pray, read, meditate and write, and I wake up at that time, glad to get up and truly looking to see what God wants me to see, I am amazed and thankful at the same time.

   It is not for me just to sit here and brag that God is telling me something, that He considers this time important also, but that I felt He was asking me to share the experience, in humility, I pray.

   In sharing all of this, I want to pray now that God would give me the strength to live out the realization of it all in the rest of this day, and in the days out in front of me. He has been in these few moments, and that does not have to cease when I get up to have breakfast.

   This all happened this morning and it is real, Really.

How About Them Apples?

   When I decided to take a free 30 day trial of a new photography software package, several people told me that the learning curve of this particular program was pretty steep. Well, I got it and they were correct. I have spent, maybe 10 hours, on this and haven't even mastered getting photos into the work stream yet, much less organizing them into different files where they can be found easily. I thought about this as I looked at the title the New American Bible Version had given to Psalm 71:                 

                 Prayer of an Old Man for Deliverance.

   And then these verses down in the body of that same Psalm:

"Do not cast me off in the time of old age;
Do not forsake me when my strength fails."

"And even when I am old and gray, O God, do not forsake me,"

   Now David was the author of these, and I know his take on life was probably much different also, but maybe he had some of the same problems as I do at this age.

   What do I feel about getting older? Well, I can't ride my bike as far, can't run at all, can't even walk as fast as I used to, can't outdrive anyone on the golf course, even if I hit from the senior tee box. Even when my mind says that I can get to that tennis return, my body doesn't. And those are just physical things.

   I can't think as well, write as well, spell as well or remember as well as I used to. That takes care of the mental side as well.

   So what's a body to do? Well, I believe that God knows all of the above, and He also knows that there are things that I can still do, or that I can do with my life now. I can't just sit around and mope about the things that I cannot do, there are other acts to perform, things to learn and thoughts to be thunk. God even has a plan for me in these years, if I will but listen to Him.

   After a bunch of hours yesterday, including even a private tutoring session with a professional photographer for an hour or so, I finally managed to edit one photo and change the look of this blogsite.

   Does that show that God does indeed answer the prayer of an old man? Could be.

   How about them apples!

                           

Why Do I Deserve Being Blessed?

   In Psalm 72, David is praying for his son Solomon, who is to be the next king of Israel. He prays for a lot of things that will help Solomon rule the land, and he also prays for his standing in the community of nations. David asks for a lot of things from God, but he also gives a reason that these blessings might come to his son. Listen:

   "May all kings fall down before him, 

For he delivers the needy when he calls,
the poor and him who has no helper.
He has pity on the weak and the needy,
and saves the lives of the needy.
From oppression and violence he redeems their life,
and precious is their blood in his sight.

   David does not pray for all of this because Solomon is his son. He does not seek these blessings because they are his right as a king, or because God is on the side of his nation. No, it is because of what Solomon will do with his life, how he will treat the people that are under his care.

   David knows that God is the ruler over all the kingdom, in fact over all the earth, and the king on the throne is only to be a servant of God, ruling with wisdom and treating his people as God would, in love and grace.

   The blessings come because of the life that is lived in service to God and with the best interests of his people in the forefront.

   Do I think I deserve blessings from God because of who I am, or what I have done, or where I live?

   The real reason to look for God's blessings is because of my attitude to those whom I can help, those I notice that are in need in any way.

   God, let it be so, even today.

I Wonder About Wonders

   The prayer at the end of the Moravian Daily Reading for today is:

   "As we move through and reflect upon this day, O Creator of all, help us to notice all the wonders of Your world, and to remind others of those incredible gifts. Amen"

   I thought about that prayer as I walked out into the morning. What wonders are there out there that I do not even pay any attention to every day? How much do I take for granted, even down to the very air that sustains life, in me and in all around me?

   I feel the slight nip in the air, as the colder weather of winter is slowly turning into the warmer one of spring and summer, and I wonder at the miracle of the changing seasons, and the dormant growth of the winter is budding forth, having served its time and now comes out. How much wonder do I feel even that I can sense the change in temperature and adjust my life to it?

   Then I hear the birds singing, just as if they, too, are aware of a new day and a new time, and I am in wonder that God put them here for His purposes and for us to enjoy. How about the wonder of the ear and the ability to hear all of this? Is there not wonder in how all of that works? God's handiwork is on full alert, and the world rejoices at its mysteries.

   How about that sun? Rising on a predicable schedule each day, put in a perpetual path, as are the planets, like ours, that orbit around it with precision. Is not that awe inspiring when we think about the complexity and timing of our universe, most of which we do not even realize?

   I see all this most every morning, but how many times do I even pause and think about it? It seems so common, but are not those commonplace events, in themselves, a wonderment?

   So, I pray the same prayer above again, and I take the opportunity to remind any others that may read this. God has done so much for us. Let's not be indifferent to the world around us, both in nature and in humanity. Let's live in wonder and thank the Creator who so graciously gives to His creation.

   And when the sun rises again tomorrow, I can be thankful for it all once more, if I only take time to think and wonder.

Photographs and Priorities

   Some days ago, the laptop computer that I use had its hard drive corrupted by some piece of software that I had downloaded from the Internet. The result of all of this was that the browser would recognize the Internet but would not connect to it. After trying all sorts of fixes, the only thing to do to restore its functionality was to wipe the hard drive clean and reinstall the operating system.

   One of the files I had on this hard drive was the one that held all the photos I had taken over the previous years. These were backed up on a thumb drive, so that they could be reinserted into the computer when it was ready to go again, but when the new system was in place, and the old one in the trash, I found that I had no program to look at, or work with, these old pics or any new ones that I took.

   So now I am in the process of looking at different photo programs, both for storage and for working with these images. I find that there are many such applications, and that there is also a learning curve that goes along with being able to use any of these effectively.

   Fortunately, there are also trial offers from the developers of such programs that allow one to test them for a specified period of time to determine if the software will do what is desired, and if a novice can actually understand how they work. Unfortunately, 30 days may not be long enough for some of us to find this out.

   Anyway, here I am last night, looking at tutorials as to how a new program might do the simple things that I want to do with these photos. Importing, choosing, editing, enhancing and working with these images, are all actions that can be taken with them, and this is just the beginning. Layered under each of these actions are seemingly multitudes of other things that can make us all into professional photographers, if we choose.

   Why in the world would I think of all this as I looked at the Bible readings for today? For one thing, the process was still on my mind as I woke up. For another, I did see some connection, although it might be hard to explain and understand.

   This verse from Mark's Gospel this morning:

   "And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach."

   Jesus went with His followers and then chose 12 of them to be an inner core around Him in that ministry that He had come to do.

   In the same way, I have to choose which of the photos I take go into the development phase of the  application. I shoot a bunch at one time, but not all can be dealt with in the time constraints I have. Jesus does not have the same constraints, but still chooses 12 men for His purposes, calling them apostles, even while other disciples still follow Him and are used by Him in this ministry.

   Then I think of the word "disciple". What does that mean? The Bible Dictionary gives this definition:

   " A disciple of Christ is one who (1) believes his doctrine, (2) rests on his sacrifice, (3) imbibes his spirit, and (4) imitates his example (Matt. 10:24;Luke 14:26, 27, 33; John 6:69)."

   That is a tall order, but one that I want to be a part of. Each one of those attributes and actions deserve much closer study, but not in this space.

   I still have to figure out my camera and the photo application issues, but the issue of following Jesus is the most important.

   Priorities, Don, Priorities

The Best Laid Plans ........

   As I was walking the other morning, on a beautiful cloudless beginning of the day, I was finishing my stroll down the 5th fairway toward the condo, when I looked over at the green and the golf flag was lit up with the rising sun. Looking at it from different angles, I realized that this image would make a great picture, and told myself that, the next morning that looked like it might produce that same effect, I would take my camera and see if I could capture the it.

   This morning was the first one since that day that looked promising.  As I looked out early, the sky looked free of early clouds, and the time matched that of the previous day. Taking my camera in hand, I began my walk in the same direction, so as to be in the right spot at the right time.

   Thinking that I would get to my spot a little earlier, so as to catch the sun as it progressed from the top of the flag pole to the bottom, I took a short cut and proceeded to take a few preliminary shots so as to get the angle I wanted. I took a few, moved locations and took a few more, but the sun did not cooperate.

   After I played with the settings on the camera a few times, deciding on the best ones to use, I realized that I was not going to get the shot that I had seen, and wondered why.

   I had chosen the right atmospheric conditions, had come out at the right time, the sun had cooperated and come up on schedule, the light was that early morning golden hue, and I was in the right place. My plans had come about as I wanted, but the picture just was not there.

   Had the 3 days between the golden opportunity and the day I now stood in, changed the angle of the sun as it moved farther south toward summer? Had the tree changed its shape in order to block out the earlier angle?

   I made the right plan, but something happened. Maybe it was not supposed to be.

   My best shot of the morning was not the one I wanted.

 

   Then the thought hit me. I made a good plan, but someone changed the parameters. The greenskeeper had decreed a new pin placement for today and the hole and flag changed to a new place on the green, a place where the sun did not strike it in the same way. I forgot to put that in the plan.

   I was somewhat flexible, I did take some pictures, but my plan did not take into consideration that someone else had a plan also.

   Will my plans for today be flexible enough to take advantage of what God has in store this day?

   Maybe my picture plans will be fulfilled another day, or maybe not, but that is not always for me to say, is it?