The first summer I lifeguarded, I enjoyed it. I liked knowing that I was keeping the swimmers safe. And I only had to go in for one save that summer, so it was all good.
        The next summer, I taught swimming lessons before the pool opened to the public in the afternoon for general swimming. Teaching swimming lessons was amazing! How much fun is it to take a child who won’t even put their face in the water and turn them into a fish!! On the last day of lessons, after only three weeks, teachers would take their swimmers to the deep end and let them jump off the diving board. When I was teaching the littlest swimmers, I was always treading water just below the board in order to catch them and get them started on their way to the side.
         Some of those kids were tiny! What would possess them to climb up on the diving board, creep out to the end, and then jump into my arms?! After only three weeks of lessons?! They trusted me. They not only were willing to do what I asked; they believed I would keep them safe when they did it.
         It’s no wonder Jesus said that we have to become like little children if we want to enter the kingdom of God! (Matthew 18:3) To obey - even when you’re scared - and to trust that God’s got you!! That’s the very definition of faith.
         I was replaying that video in my head this morning - thinking about the faith of a little child, evaluating my faith. The scripture (1 Corinthians 13:12) popped into my head: we see through a glass darkly. We don’t know what’s coming. We don’t even fully understand what’s happening right now.  We almost certainly don’t comprehend everything that has happened last week, last month, last year.
     We don’t know why certain things have happened - health issues, relationship conflicts, natural disasters (called acts of God by the insurance companies), accidents, etc. We may find ourselves asking God why - not in the wrong way. We just want to know what it is that we’re supposed to be learning from whatever difficulty we’re walking through. It’s an expression of faith and trust - asking why - because it demonstrates
that we know God has allowed that circumstance to occur in our life.
        But what if that’s not the best response? What if the best response is, “Thank You, Father, for loving me”? What if, like that scared little swimmer who creeps to the end of the diving board, we simply trust that God loves us enough to jump off into His waiting arms - trusting that He loves us enough to give us His very best, having the faith to believe that we don’t know what miracles He’s performing behind the scenes? What if the thing that we label Disaster is actually the event which draws us closer to Him? What if we are blessed to see God’s hand at work in our life because of where He has asked us to go?
        It’s the craziest thing! Sometimes a child will be so afraid to climb up on the board. They have to have another teacher walk them out to the end of the board. I even had one little one who had to be lowered into the arms of her teacher, who was treading water below the board. Some of those kids are scared to death. But when they do it once, that’s all they want to do - over and over again. They get to the side of the pool, run to the diving board, and eagerly wait for their turn to go again.
        Thinking of their enthusiasm brings tears to my eyes. What if, in addition, to being obedient and trusting God, what if we were jumping up and down in eager anticipation for whatever is next in God’s plan? It’s gonna be good - even if it doesn’t look good right now - because God loves us. He wants us in His kingdom with Him. And He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? (Romans 8:32) He’s already given us the most precious gift of all!!
        So as the swimming lesson session of life winds down, how are you walking to the deep end and the diving board? Are you obedient? Are you trusting? Are you thankful? And are you joyful? Just something to think about.

Every time I watch the news or read a news article, I’m dismayed at world conditions. Some of it makes me angry. Some of it makes me sick. Some of it makes me feel very discouraged. Most of it just makes me want to go back to bed and pull the covers over my head, hoping it was just a bad dream and that it will all go away. Those feelings weigh me down and make me feel less like accomplishing anything. Of course, one solution is to just not look at the news, but that doesn’t make all of the evilness, insanity, and godlessness disappear; it just makes me less informed.

I was thinking about toil and trouble as I was picking blueberries and blackberries and watering the garden.

My garden is not producing like I would have liked or expected. I got it planted later than I wanted to because it was so wet so late. Then the deer very happily ate the cucumbers, beans, cantaloupe, strawberry leaves, and tomatoes when they first came up!!! Seriously!! Ron and I have taken some measures to discourage the deer. But the result of their nightly smorgasbord munching has set my garden back enormously. Then the extreme heat, the myriad of bugs, and dry conditions haven’t helped.

Nevertheless, the blueberries are trying. The early variety was nice and plump. The variety which ripens in July are not nearly so large and juicy. Nevertheless, they are plentiful. As I was picking blueberries this morning, I was struck by the realization that regardless of the difficulties and obstacles the plants face, they are still trying to produce fruit. Well, some of them are. The blueberries and blackberries are trying. On the other hand, the tomatoes have lots of blooms. The plants look dark green and healthy, but have very little fruit. The difficulties they experienced have resulted in limited production. I’ve weeded. I’ve mulched. I’m watering. Still on 35 plants I have five little tomatoes set on. I’m not happy.

Do you think God feels like that toward us? Jesus told us that in this life we would have trouble. We should expect difficulties and obstacles. So then, what do we do? Do we hunker down and just wait for the return of Jesus? Or like I said, go back to bed and pull the covers over my head, hoping it will all go away? Or do we tighten our belt, adjust our hat, straighten our shoulders, and resolve to produce fruit for the Master regardless of the difficulties and obstacles?

I know some people who exhibit peace, calm, and pleasantness regardless of the problems they are experiencing. To look at them, you’d never know that life has thrown them a nasty curveball in the bottom of the ninth with the game on the line. And we’re not just talking about limited tomato production! These folks are struggling with severe issues.

I suspect that, for these folks, the peace they exude is not just a facade, but is very real evidence of their faith in the Master, in His provision, His sovereignty, and His goodness. Their peace is faith in action; it’s producing fruit for the Kingdom.

There are things we can do to help a garden be productive in the midst of a hot, dry summer. Of course, water is essential. But, in the end, God gives the increase. And that’s the key to my own emotional malaise, isn’t it? My loving Heavenly Father is still in control; He’s sovereign. He knows what I need to shape me into a useful tool for now and for in the kingdom. I need to take my eyes off this world and keep them firmly fixed on Jesus Christ.

And who knows, with all of those blooms, maybe I’ll have lots of tomatoes before the summer is over.

         I was privileged to deliver the welcome speech to our 2022 homeschool graduating class this past Sunday, and although I was talking about their graduation from high school and commencement into whatever comes next, it occurred to me that God gives us similar times to stop and think about what we’ve accomplished and where we’re going next.
       Commencement is an interesting word. Too many people think that it is the closing ceremony at the end of graduation. But it’s not. Ment is “the act of;” so commencement is “the act of commencing, or beginning.” Having rescued us from slavery to sin and redeemed us by the blood of the Lamb, our Heavenly Father expects us now to walk worthy of the calling we have received. He expects us to seek Him diligently that He may be found by us. And as we hit these milestones in our Christian walk [the sabbath, Passover, and Holy Days], we stop, consider where we’ve been and what comes next, and then start again with renewed dedication and devotion to God. We have, in a sense, a commencement.
        In the middle of these holy days is a very special holy day that sometimes creeps up on us, catching us unawares because it’s only one day, because we’re so busy with life, and perhaps because we haven’t made a special effort to count. That’s unfortunate because this Feast which is rapidly approaching is also called the Feast of Firstfruits. We, the Church, the Bride of Christ, those who will be in the first resurrection, are the firstfruits. This holy day is all about God’s plan for us.
        As you read the commencement remarks that I made, think about them in terms of where you are this Pentecost, what you’ve done and what God has done to bring you to this point, then focus your attention on your goal and commence again to reach it.

                                                                   🎓🎓🎓
        Welcome to the commencement ceremony for the graduating class of 2022. We are sincerely glad you all came to join us in celebrating this milestone.
        Well done, Graduates. Well done.
        You have persevered along with your parents through years of education, attempting subjects you eventually came to love and discovering others you would rather never visit again. You explored and developed God-given talents, and you have made your parents, family, and friends very proud of you - in the right way. So well done, Graduates.
        But this is not where your life ends. On the contrary, you are stepping today through a portal from being a high school student into having graduated from high school, ready to embrace whatever comes next. You’re making plans, but if we revisit this conversation in five years, many of you will have found that life took some turns you didn’t see coming. As I was contemplating this and thinking about commencement today, I thought of how grateful I am that God gives us object lessons to help grow us toward His kingdom. Consider three parallels between today’s graduation and the return of Jesus. These three are probably not the only analogies, of course.
        First, you don’t know exactly what the future holds - either in the next five years or as Jesus sets up His kingdom. So it’s important to keep your eyes set on the goal. For the immediate future, it might be college or a job; for the ultimate future, it’s dwelling with God forever.
        Secondly, what you’ve done over the past several years greatly impacts what will happen next, what you will be doing. If you were diligent to study and learn, you will be well-prepared for college. If you wasted your time, that’s time you can never get back. Similarly, your devotion to seeking God and His will in your life will have huge ramifications in His kingdom and the place that He is preparing for you.
        And thirdly, you have been seeking to please your earthly parent, to come to this day when you have finished the course set before you and to hear, “Well done, son or daughter.” That feels pretty good, doesn’t it! Think of how wonderful it will be to hear that from your Heavenly Parent!!  For each of you, you have come from a family whose
relationship with God is of paramount importance. Hold on to that as you step into this next phase of your life. For there is coming another portal that each of us will step through, sooner or later. As for me, I long to hear, “Well done, daughter.”
        Today we celebrate your graduation from high school and your commencement into what comes next. Congratulations to each of you, and as you go forward, go with God.
                                                                         🎓🎓🎓
        And similarly, to each of you, brothers and sisters in Christ, my spiritual family, stop and enjoy Pentecost as a commencement ceremony of sorts and then, going forward, go with God.

I found this sabbath lesson from April 5, 2014 as I was looking for something else this morning.

Still Work to be Done
Then the whole congregation of the people of Israel assembled at Shiloh and set up the tent of meeting there. The land lay subdued before them.  Joshua 18:1

Do you set goals for yourself? Do you have plans and projects you want to do? Do you have a bucket list? Do you make a to-do list for yourself every day, every week, every year? 

I  like lists. I find myself better organized to get more accomplished if I have spent some time thinking about what I want  to get done. So I have a daily/weekly list. But accompanying that short-term framework, I also have longer range goals. Right now, my overarching goal is to accomplish everything that needs to be done by Passover: cleaning the whole house, working on the garden as the weather permits, finishing up formal homeschooling for the year, and preparing my heart and mind for the upcoming Holy Days. There are other goals and projects mixed in which have no definite end: I’m working on crocheting a blanket. I want to build a corner shelf in my kitchen. I’m reading the Bible each day. 

The reality is: there’s a lot to be done. Inherent in the process of setting goals is using your time wisely - not only in being able to accomplish more, but also in accomplishing what is most important. When you set goals, you tend to put some thought into what is most important that has to be done first. That usually goes at the top of the list. Think about it on a tiny scale: grocery shopping. When I used to shop at the same store all the time, I got so I knew exactly where everything was. So when I’d make out my grocery list, I’d start by listing everything I knew I needed. Then I’d go back and arrange that list by where I’d find it in the store. That eliminates getting to the end of the store with a full cart and realizing you walked right by something that’s clear on the other side of the store .

Or think about running errands. I always plan my errands in sequence. If I have to go to the post office, the bank, the library, the grocery store, and the craft store, I plan them in the most efficient route. It would be the height of ridiculousness to drive right by one of the stops and end up having to drive miles out of my way to get back to it. Gas is expensive. But, really, time is much more valuable!

So I make lists. I work towards goals. But what happens when I have completed everything on my list? I throw the list away. What happens when I reach a goal? I turn my attention to what needs to be done next. There’s always something to do. There’s still work to be done.

I wonder if that’s how the Israelites felt when they finally took the land. It took seven years, from the time of the crossing of the Jordan, to reach the point where Joshua 18:1 records, “The land lay subdued before them.” This goal had been a long time coming! God had promised this land to Abraham some 500 years before! The goal of reaching the Promised Land had been before the people’s eyes since they came out of Egypt. Forty years of wandering in the wilderness had ensued. Seven years of conquering the land was behind them. Finally, they were there. Now what?

They started right. Joshua 18:1 says, “Then the whole congregation of the people of Israel assembled at Shiloh and set up the tent of meeting there. The land lay subdued before them.” They set up the tent of meeting, the place where they would worship God, where they could go to inquire of God. The implication is that, even though they’d reached their goal of taking the land, they knew they still needed God. They knew that worshiping God was still on their to-do list.

But we know how the story unfolded. Israel entered the period of the judges. They would start out serving God. Things would be going well. Then they’d start to serve the false gods around them. God would give them into the hands of their enemies who would make their lives miserable. So the Israelites would call out to God to save them. He’d send a judge to save them. Then,  as long as that judge lived, the land would have rest and the people would serve God. As soon as that judge died, the cycle would start again: apostasy, oppression, repentance, salvation - over and over again.

So, does this history have any relevance to our lives today? Human nature is still the same. We are still tempted and drawn away from God and His ways by the things around us. We still have the tendency to seek God while there’s a goal to be met, when we know we need Him to help us get through whatever battle we’re presently fighting. But what do we do when we finally have finished the battle and are at rest? What do I do when I finish reading through the Bible? Do I set the Bible on the shelf and say, “O.K. That’s done. What book shall I read next?” What do I do when I’ve finally done everything that has to be done before Passover? Do I pat myself on the back and just let the house get dirty again, and, more importantly, stop evaluating my actions against the plumb line of God’s Word? What do we do when we’ve reached a major goal? 

Too many people are deceived into thinking their major, long-term goals are their overarching reason d’être, their reason for existing. Some young people see finishing school as their overarching goal. Finishing school becomes their reason d’être. Then, when they’ve finished school, they don’t know what to do with themselves. Some mothers see their reason d’être as raising their children. So when the children are grown and out of the house, the mothers feel like they have no purpose in life. And the list goes on. Too many people feel like rudderless ships. They don’t know where they’re going in life because they don’t have that overarching goal, that purpose, that reason d’être. So they try to find it in temporal pleasures: doing what feels good at the moment, drugs, alcohol, relationships - all of which are unfulfilling in the end because they are not our reason d’etre.

They’re missing the main goal at the top of their to-do list: love God and serve Him forever.

Loving God and serving Him forever is the first thing which is written at the top of our daily project list. It’s the glasses through which we must view the rest of our endeavors. It becomes not just a goal to reach, but who we are. It’s not saying six sentences to God in the morning and then I’m done for the rest of the day. It’s not the first errand to accomplish when we’re out running errands; it’s the mantle we wear as we’re running those errands. Loving God and serving Him forever is indelibly written on our to-do lists - if we belong to God.

And, if we belong to God, God’s right there with us as we accomplish each more minor goal.  The Israelites had conquered the land; it lay subdued before them. They set up the tent of meeting; God was with them, dwelling in the midst of Israel. They just had to keep God first in their lives. They just had to put Him and His ways at the top of their daily to-do list. There was still work to be done, and they desperately needed God to be part of their daily lives. We have to learn the lesson recorded for us: we have to be sure that God is dwelling in the midst of us, that He’s part of the fabric of our daily lives, that He’s at the top of our to-do list, that loving Him and serving Him forever is our primary goal, our reason d’être. Because, as long as we’re alive, there’s lots to accomplish; there’s still work to be done.

My favorite line in Johnny Diaz’s “Breathe” is “Lay down what’s good and find what’s best.” Think about that for a moment: We have all these good things around us. Life is good. My occupation is good. My hobbies and daily activities are good. My relationship with God is good. My relationship with my family is good. Et cetera. But . . . are they best?

The Israelites coming out of Egypt refused to go into the Promised Land. They gave up God’s best for them in refusing to obey Him. Life was still good. God went with them. God provided manna for them daily. God led them. God was there. But it was not God’s best.

Elisha’s final prophecy was to Joash, King of israel (2 Kings 13). He told Joash to take a bow and arrow and shoot it out the window. It was the LORD’s arrow of victory over Syria. Then Elisha told Joash to  take the arrows and strike the ground with them. Joash took the arrows and struck the ground three times. There’s no indication that Joash knew why he was striking the ground, but Elisha was angry nevertheless. He told Joash that if he’d struck the ground five or six times, he would have completely made an end of Syria, but now he would only have three victories over them. Joash settled for less than God’s best.

Consider the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30). The servant who had been given five talents worked diligently to gain five more. The servant who had been given two talents, gained two more. Both were commended and given a reward. The servant who was given one talent made excuses and didn’t work for the master. The master did not respond favorably. He didn’t accept the excuses. In fact, that servant was cast into outer darkness where there was weeping and gnashing to teeth. Definitely not God’s best.

Then there’s the story of Elisha and the widow’s oil (2 Kings 4:1-7). The widow was in desperate straits. The creditor was coming to take her two children as slaves to pay off her debts. Elisha told her to go borrow “not a few” vessels. When she had taken the vessels into her house, she began pouring oil. As one vessel filled, her sons brought her another. Finally, she asked for another and they told her there were no more. Then the oil stopped. She had enough to pay her debts and enough left over to support herself and her children. What if she had only borrowed two jars? What if she had settled for just a few jars? She diligently borrowed “not a few” and the oil flowed until they were all filled. The widow got to experience God’s best.

There are so many examples in the Bible, so many principles for us to apply to our own lives! Do we settle for what’s good, instead of what’s best, because we don’t trust God enough to obey Him? Do we persevere in our obedience? Or do we obey for a while and then shrug and declare it good enough for government work? Do we make excuses for our disobedience and our unbelief? Do we acknowledge Him in all our ways, allowing Him to direct our paths? Do we see something good and settle for less than God’s best?

Do you remember the story of the rich fool (Luke 12:16-21)? This rich man had rich soil and abundant harvests. He wondered what he should do. Where was he going to store all of the harvest? He decided to tear down his old barn, build a bigger barn, store the harvest and sit back and take it easy. There’s nothing wrong with working hard and making plans to take it easy. Jesus’ condemnation centered on the fact that the rich fool was not rich toward God first!!

It occurred to me that although I would not be considered rich in material goods, I have a wealth that is enormous, howbeit not unlimited: time. What am I going to do with my time? What is most profitable for the kingdom? Here’s where the tricky part comes in! There are lots of good activities out there. I have one year left of homeschooling. Then what? What will I do with my time? I know I could  very easily fill each day. There are so many things to do. What I don’t want to do is to settle for good. I don’t want to get busy, busy, busy. I want to take some time to sit at Jesus’ feet and figure out what God’s best is for me at this season in my life. What will bring Him glory and honor?

There’s a temptation to spend lots of time in Bible study and prayer. And that’s good too. But Jesus told His disciples to occupy until He comes. The fields are ripe unto harvest. The gospel needs to be spread. I’m not going to be part of that effort if I’m sitting at home, taking my ease, reading my Bible all day long. I need to be working for the kingdom! The days are short! But the cool thing is that God doesn’t want us just to survive; He wants us to thrive. He wants the very best for us. And it’s up to each of us to find not a few vessels for God to fill.

Trust Him, obey Him, honor Him, and find what’s best!

     One of the things we’ve re-learned through this pandemic is just how very important it is to stay in touch with one another. Ma Bell’s slogan rings more true today than it did 40 years ago!! Reach out and touch someone! We need the encouragement, the support, the opportunity to share our thoughts to shrink them from mountains back into molehills. We need the iron sharpening iron. We need to see the delight on someone’s face when they see us. We need each other! Solomon knew what he was talking about when he said a cord of three strands is not easily broken.
     Around the start of each new year (man’s calendar), there’s a big push to make new resolutions - to read the Bible in a year, to lose weight, to start a new job, to learn a new skill. While you’re taking stock of where you are and where you want to be this time next year, make it a goal to reach out and touch someone - to exhort and encourage them. Tell someone just how very much they mean to you and what a difference they’ve made in your life. Find meaningful ways to impact the lives of the people around you.
     A great place to start is with your prayer life - because you can’t give what you don’t have. Read the verses which speak of God’s love for you and just how precious you are to Him. Then share that love with the people around you - and all the more as we see the Day approaching.


originally posted in the Church of God Faith Fellowship January 2022 newsletter

Virginia (the cat) was overjoyed that we were home from the Feast. She galloped around the living room and pounced on the carpet. She has been particularly accepting of cuddles and petting. In fact, she has been jumping into laps, curling up, and going to sleep. She’s so glad we’re home.

Jonathan, Jennifer, and Amanda arrived home before Ron and I did. After Pepper vocally expressed his delight at their arrival, he searched the house for me. When we finally got home about thirty minutes later, he cried and raced between all of us, hardly able to contain his excitement. Then he followed me everywhere, not willing to let me be out of his sight for the next couple of days.

As Jonathan said during his message at the Feast, staying there is not an option; it’s not sustainable. We have responsibilities and tasks waiting for us at home - all part of God’s plan for our lives. Nevertheless, we hate to see the end of the Feast. We feel the sadness that it’s over. We miss the tangible presence of Lord in our midst. Still, we go home, and our minds begin sorting through the to-do lists as we make plans to pick up our routines again.

Except . . . we’ll never be exactly the same. We aren’t picking up our routines exactly as we left them. We’ve rejoiced with our spiritual family; we’ve heard exhortations and encouragements.
And hopefully, we’ve internalized them - at least a nugget or two, or maybe a plethora of ideas and concepts. Prayerfully, we’ve tasted the glory of the Lord, and we’ve come to realize that we can take it with us! We don’t have to leave it at the Feast!

Oh, and God gives us one more gift, post-Feast: He gives us people in our lives who are very happy to see us; they truly missed us! We matter. We make a difference. God has placed us in this world to make a difference - for His glory and honor! And it’s nice to have the validation that it is so. But maybe, just maybe, initially at least, we’re not quite ready to get back into our lives. So God blesses us with pets who are unreservedly overjoyed that we’re home. It’s a gift. It’s a gentle way to remind us of the importance of our lives to others. And besides, stroking a purring cat is a pretty nice way to combat the post-Feast blues and to reacclimate to life at home.
🐶🐱 🐶🐱 🐶🐱 🐶🐱

Dad (Bill Rollins) had the opportunity to speak on sabbath in Tulsa the day before Christopher and Alyssa’s wedding. He cited 2 Corinthians 6:1 “ . . . we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain,” and exhorted us all to be mindful of the opportunity we have at the Feast to experience the glory of God. It’s an appointment set by the King of the universe. As Andy Laws said at the Feast in Michigan in 2017, that means we’d better “suit up and show up.” And we do; we make preparations, reserve accommodations, plan meals, make food, kennel the dogs, and so on. But we also have to be very intentional about preparing to meet with God for eight days. That is, as we’re busy making plans for what we’re going to do, spending time with God has to be at the top of the list - because we’re not just taking a vacation from work. It’s so much more than that!! It’s a rehearsal, a reminder of God’s plan for us as the temple of the living God, the Bride of Christ, the priests of God.

As we were drinking in that exhortation not to miss God’s glory, we experienced a repetition of the admonition: Christopher and Alyssa’s wedding. As the Bride of Christ, Ephesians 5:27 tells us that Jesus cleanses the Bride by the washing of water with the

word. But Revelation 19:7 says that the Bride has made herself ready. We need to make ourselves ready!!

I cannot tell you how many boxes have arrived at our home over the past couple of months, as Alyssa prepared for the wedding. But it wasn’t only the physical decorations and stuff! I’ve gotten to witness discussions about rings, the wedding venue, the date, and the myriad of things Alyssa worked on in preparation for the day. All of the planning, the preparation, the help from family and friends - it has been a lot of work for her. Make no mistake: she wanted to do it. She wanted the wedding to be beautiful. And I found myself wondering if we, if I, spend as much time preparing to be the Bride of Christ.

Christopher and Alyssa wrote their own vows and pledged before God and all of the witnesses to love one another and to build their marriage until death. Have we, do I, exhibit that kind of devotion to Jesus? Do I prefer Him above all others? Submit myself to Him in all things? Love Him with all of my heart, soul, and strength? I’d like to say, “Well, yes! Of course!” But I know myself and how I sometimes want my own way. I sometimes dread what He wants me to go through - a lack of trust? I am struck by the fact that more purifying is necessary before the Marriage Supper of the Lamb.

Another aspect of the wedding emphasized God’s plan. We talked about the marriage of Christopher and Alyssa and how that links our families together. Now, when Aletha Dennis stands up and calls her family to her, Matt and Renee Steele stand up. Trevor and Krissy Dennis and all of the Whittleys stand up. Shawn and Kim stand up. Then Christopher and Alyssa and all the Saladins. Then the Mannings. And Bill and Sally Rollins.
Then Nate and Sylvia. Then Margo and Bernice. Then Maria and Johnny Snyder. And Aletha looks at Johnny and says, “I didn’t realize I was related to you!!”

We could do something similar with so many of the families in the churches of God. How about the Laws-Gaffney-White-DiFranco-Kincade-Hoefker family? The ties that bind us into a family are growing stronger! And the Feast of Tabernacles is becoming a physical family reunion even as it has always been a spiritual family reunion.

So then, what do our families do when we get together? We talk about God. The whole wedding weekend was a conversation between people who love God, talking about Him, what He’s doing in our lives, what’s happening in our world, His plans, and applicable scriptures which direct us how, then, we should live! Exhorting, discussing, encouraging, reconnecting, rejoicing, celebrating! It’s been a full weekend.

It should come as no surprise then, that amid all of the good-bye hugs and plans for when we will see each other again, there were a few tears. Perhaps because God graciously granted us another opportunity to taste His glory, and we weren’t quite ready for it to be over.
I know I’m eager for the next taste of God’s glory; I don’t want to receive the glory of God in vain!!
🍒 🍒 🍒 🍒 🍒 🍒 🍒 🍒 🍒 🍒 🍒

It doesn’t take very long working cattle to appreciate a good cow horse. And the more you work together, the more solid you become as a team. Your horse knows just which cow you want before you are even aware that you gave any signal. He’ll cut that cow out of the bunch probably without any help from you. So when I came across this quote from John Wesley the other day, I was struck by how evocative an impression it made.

We’ve all seen the Westerns where the cowboys are holding their horses on a tight rein, so much that their necks are arched. The horses look like they’re raring to go. It’s good theatrics, I suppose, but not very realistic.

On the other hand, not having any tension in the reins doesn’t work well either. One day, Brian (aka Shaggy) invited his girlfriend out to the ranch where I was working for the summer. He decided to take her horseback riding. I don’t think she’d ever been before.  Shaggy put her up on Whitey, his favorite horse, and told her to grab the reins. She did . . . at the very ends, so that the reins looped down almost to the ground. And then they took off, riding much too quickly for someone who’d never ridden before. When Shaggy saw where she was holding the reins, he told her to gather them up. She started pulling them in, reaching out as far as she could and pulling them back as rapidly as she could because the fence was coming up towards her pretty quickly. Did I tell you that this was a cattle ranch? Did I mention that Shaggy used Whitey to chase cows, and that he’d spent a lot of time training this horse? Like any good cow horse, as soon as Whitey felt the tension on the reins, he stopped, instantly. The girl . . . well, physics took over. Her momentum carried her over Whitey’s head and spilled her out on the sand (thankfully) where she rolled a couple of somersaults before stopping. I don’t know whether it was the humiliation of being dumped off the horse or the fact that Shaggy was laughing so hard, but she never visited again.

So when John Wesley said that trusting God is like living with a loose rein, he didn’t mean riding horseback like Shaggy’s girl. Nor did he mean like the Lone Ranger rides Silver on the silver screen. I suspect that he meant that there’s a trust between a horse and his rider that develops over time, communication, shared experiences, shared accomplishments, heartaches, and victories.

When I was eleven, I spent a lot of that summer helping Uncle Mike chase cows. One particular day we were bringing in thirteen dries (cows that didn’t have a calf and needed to be sold at the sale barn). Those cows wanted to go anywhere but the house. Buster, my horse, was a wise, sure-footed cow horse; I was just along for the ride. At one point, the cows doubled back and Buster spun right after them. I literally reached out and grabbed the saddle horn to pull myself back into the saddle. Buster immediately stopped the pursuit so that I could regain my seat. Like I said, Buster knew what needed to be done; I was more of a liability than a help.

It’s ironic, isn’t it. We like to think when we’re up on horseback that we’re in control. We’re calling the shots. That 1800-pound horse is actually the one in control. He’s the one doing the work. He’s the one getting me from Point A to Point B. He’s the one who’s letting me go along for the ride. The amazing thing is that, when I have developed a relationship, the horse wants to please me, so he’s willing to go where I point him and chase cows when I need to move them from one place to another. But Buster also made it quite plain that he was really the one in control the day he stepped on my boot. Ever try to push a horse off the foot that he’s standing on?!

I liked John Wesley’s quote. Living with a loose rein means that there’s trust between you and God. But it’s more than that. It’s relying on Him rather than ourselves, living “with a calmer, more relaxed attitude” because you know that He’s really the One in control. He’s the One moving you from Point A to Point B. He’s the One getting the work done and providing the power. But because we have a relationship, God is also very attentive to our cry. He listens to our prayers. He takes care of us when we almost fall out of the saddle. It is not the kind of relationship where we hold Him at arm’s length - with a distant communication that is really no communication at all. When we play at being a Christian, it’s not God’s fault when we find ourselves rolling head over heels from some poor life decision. At the other end of the spectrum, God is also not anything like a genie in a bottle; He is not under our control like the stereotypical silver screen horses; He doesn’t exist to do our bidding.

God is our Protector. He enables us to work and accomplish great things. He enjoys our pleasure. He wants to hear our voice and He listens to us. But He also expects us to listen to Him. There’s mutual trust and respect and love, and He is our Friend, in the very best sense of the word. And thankfully, if we learn to live with a loose rein, He lets us go along for the ride.

Quote from: Amazing Grace, Kenneth Osbeck, “I Am His and He is Mine,” 1990, pg. 50.)

It was a delightful morning in the blackberry patch today. Yesterday’s rain washed some of the heat and humidity out of the air. The patch was still in the shade that early in the morning. And several interesting thoughts occurred to me.

From a distance, the blackberry patch doesn’t look like there’s much fruit left this summer. But after thirty minutes of picking, I had half a gallon. That’s pretty good for going into the third week of the blackberry harvest! And isn’t it interesting how that works in our lives as well? As people get older, they start to feel like they don’t have much left to offer - to other people or to God. But that’s just not the case. There’s still much valuable fruit for the kingdom!

I like picking blackberries because the really ripe ones have to go into my mouth. If I put them in the bucket and brought them into the house to wash, they’d just fall apart. They’re that ripe. So into my mouth they go. So sweet. So incredibly delicious! But they are so ripe that sometimes they disintegrate and I end up dropping them instead. It makes me think of that saying: There’s many a slip between cup and lip. You have something so very precious in your hand and it never makes it into your mouth. Sometimes it’s through carelessness, not paying close enough attention, or because you don’t care enough to be intentional about it. I hope we don’t treat our relationship with God that way! If we truly recognized the value of the relationship we would make it a priority so that it didn’t slip through our fingers. And oh how very sweet and precious that relationship with God is!!

Part of picking blackberries is wading into the patch. Thankfully there aren’t too many chiggers this summer, although I am sporting a few bites. But the other blessing in our patch is that a church friend, Virgel Tow, bought those blackberry bushes for us many years ago when he saw them on sale. He thought we needed thornless blackberries. Oh how many times over the years I have mentally thanked Virgel that they are thornless - and I did again this morning as I was wading into the patch. It was bittersweet this year though, because Virgel’s funeral was this week. So I couldn’t help thinking about how one small action can have such a huge impact in another person’s life and continues to impact them even after you’re gone. It’s important to take time to help others, pray for them, talk with them, be kind to them. You never know what lasting impact you can have for the kingdom.

Because the blackberries are thornless, I’m more willing to dive into the middle of the patch, but it’s still rather tricky. Those blackberry shoots go all directions and it’s easy to get tripped up while you’re reaching for a berry just out of reach. It’s a good reminder to remember that even when it’s a fairly safe endeavor, there are still things which can cause you to stumble if you’re not paying attention.

The next thought which intruded upon my blackberry picking involved the cat. That cat followed me into the blackberry patch. Who knows why! Maybe she was just curious as to what I was doing - because after all, curiosity and all that. But isn’t it interesting how our actions are viewed by people around us. Because we love God and honor Him by obeying His commandments, others are intrigued by what they see in our lives. They might be attracted to Christ because of our actions, just as a cat was attracted to the blackberry patch. (The dogs follow me out to the blackberry patch hoping I’ll give them bites. But I’ve never seen the cat eat a blackberry . . . )

And along the lines of life, I thought about how wonderful the blackberry harvest has been this year. The three weeks of rain we had in late June/early July did wonders for our harvest. They are huge and juicy and sweet. Of course, the Living Water in our lives makes all the difference too, doesn’t it!? We are much more visible, more sweet and flavorful, if we have the Holy Spirit indwelling us. We make a better impression for God if we are sustained by the Living Water!

The last thought which attracted my attention as I was picking blackberries is the phrase: Good is good enough. I probably could have found another handful of blackberries had I really worked at it. But there comes a time when good is good enough. I don’t need to pick every berry. It’s just not worth the effort and besides, the birds like the ones I leave. So are there things in our lives that we just need to identify as being done well enough and call it good? It’s a balance, I know, because we are working for the Lord and we want to be perfect as our Heavenly Father is perfect. But keeping every speck of dust out of your house, every tiny weed out of the garden, picking every blackberry,  - there comes a point when we realize that we should be doing something more valuable with our time. Good is good enough for that particular task.

Last thought of the day: I have to do something with my berries. The kids are eating a lot of them fresh, taking them to work in their lunch every day. But there’s a few left over. What a shame it would be to let them get moldy. All that picking wasted! All that wonderful fruit gone to waste. In a similar way, if you have something you can do for God today, do it. Don’t wait. Redeem the time for the days are evil. We don’t know how much time each of us has. Make the most of it. Me, I’m going to be making blackberry jelly.