Month: July 2018

Many Parts, but One Body

Posted on by Paula
Noah is just one of many members, and his tenors are just one of many instruments.
Noah and His Tenors

My youngest son, Noah, is a percussionist and is playing the tenor drums in the high school marching band this year. He had a week of percussion camp in June and two weeks of band camp in July to prepare for this year’s show. Though he has played various types of drums over the years, this is his first year on the tenors. I couldn’t wait to watch him perform on parent preview night. I thought he did a wonderful job and was pretty impressed with his performance.

Although I love watching and listening to Noah, he plays just one part of the rhythm. There are also snare drums and bass drums. There are also instruments that play the melody. My niece plays the mellophone, and still others play the saxophone, clarinet, flute, trumpet, trombone, tuba and other instruments. While every instrument has a part to play, not every instrument plays constantly through each song. They simply play their part at the right time.

In addition to the marchers with instruments, there are also other band members as well. There are drum majors, the color guard and the band director. These members do not play instruments but each of them has an important role as well.

Each band member has talent, and each has a specific role. They all work together to play the music and to march to the choreography for the show the director has chosen. The musical composition cannot sound they way the composer intended if certain instruments are missing. The field formation cannot look the way the choreographer envisioned if there is not a marcher for every spot. If all of the drums or all of the trumpets decided not to perform, the music wouldn’t sound right, and the formation wouldn’t look right. Even just one missing person could make a difference.

The director chooses the drum majors, the marchers, the music and choreography. He arranges the members in the best formation for the show. He explains their roles, provides their uniforms, equips them with their gear and leads them to work together in unity for the common cause.

And so it is with the Church body. Paul writes in 1 Corinthians 12:14-20: “For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,’ that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, ‘Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,’ that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the sense of hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body.”

Each member of the body has an important role. God chooses us and arranges each member as He sees best. He clothes us in the full armor of God, equips us with gifts and talents and leads us to work together in unity for the common cause of Christ. We need each other to accomplish the work God gives us, and when each person listens to His commands and does what He says, His beautiful plan falls into place with ease.

Beside Still Waters

Posted on by Paula
He Leads Me Beside Still Waters
Sitting at the End of the Dock and Watching the Sun Go Down

I had been looking forward to hiding away, resting and letting God unclutter my mind and untangle my heart. Every year, my family plans an escape where we can shut everything out for a week and enjoy each other’s company with no interruptions. We don’t make many plans other than enjoying the ocean, lounging in the pool or playing cards and board games. Although I spend a lot of time with my family, I also get the opportunity each day to spend time by myself. Sometimes I think and pray as I walk by myself along the beach. Other times I read, doodle or write as I sit alone in the sunshine. I always come home refreshed.

This year I was pretty worn down before we left home. I was so ready for a reset that I could hardly wait to reach our destination and sort things out with God. However, this year, rather than staying put at our rental house all week, we chose to venture out a few of those days for special activities. Don’t get me wrong, we saw and experienced some things that we had never seen before. We had a wonderful time together and made great memories. I just didn’t get enough time to rest.

I was thankful that there were a few evenings that I was able to sit alone at the end of the dock to watch the sun go down. I normally love to hear the ocean waves as they crash onto the shore, but there were no waves at our location this year. So, rather than listening to the roar of the ocean, I didn’t hear much more than the sound that occurred when a school of fish would suddenly shoot out of the water to escape a predator. The stillness of the water and absence of noise allowed me to experience a beautiful, yet unexpected, inner peace. These moments spent at the water’s edge reminded me of some words from the 23rd Psalm, “…He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul…”

Still Waters
The Water Was so Still and Peaceful

Despite those stolen moments spent sitting at the dock, I didn’t get enough time to sort everything out while I was away. All too quickly, the time came for me to return home.

I’m thankful for the adventures my family had, but I was a little disappointed that I didn’t get as much time to rest and reflect as I had hoped for. I wasn’t coming home as refreshed as I normally do. I needed more time beside the still waters before returning to the busyness I had left behind, but it wasn’t a possibility.

At home, I am always doing something from the time I get up until the time I go to bed. Sure, I start my day reading His word and spending time in prayer, but then my day gets busy. If I do sit down, I find myself picking up my phone to text someone, to check my e-mail, to browse the internet or to scroll through social media. My mind is always occupied. I had to find a way to allow my mind more times of rest.

Since this revelation, I have been trying to find more opportunities throughout my day to simply sit still and observe God’s beautiful creation around me rather than finding something to do while I sit. I am listening for his voice while I sit in the quiet.

If I let myself get too busy, it’s easy to lose sight of the One who leads me. He knows where I need to go and when I need to stop along the way. If I lose sight of where He is taking me, I can miss those moments when He leads me beside still waters.

He is the Shepherd; I am his sheep. In Him I find everything I need. In Him I am content. He leads me beside still waters.

Off Track and Struggling With the Load

Posted on by Paula
Noah had simply gotten carried away pretending he was the little engine who had accidentally gotten off track.
My Little Man and His Trains

I loved watching my youngest son, Noah, play when he was little. One of his favorite things to do was to play with the train set. He spent hours carefully connecting the magnetic cars to the engines and pulling the long trains around the curves and over the hills of our wooden train set. He would often get so caught up in his imagination that he seemed to be in a different world.

I remember doing my housework one day and being frightened by shouts coming from the other end of the hallway. I immediately dropped what I was doing and ran to my toddler’s aid. When I reached Noah’s bedroom doorway, there was my little man reaching over the train table and holding onto Thomas the Tank Engine who was dangling off the top of the mountain. All of the box cars and their freight were in danger of being derailed along with the engine who frantically cried for help. I breathed a sigh of relief and chuckled to myself when I realized that my son was not in danger. He had simply gotten carried away pretending he was the little engine who had accidentally gotten off track.

Lately I’ve been feeling like that little engine. I have recently found myself off track in many different areas. Somehow, I have started pulling too many “boxcars” and I’m beginning to losing steam. I find myself struggling to keep on schedule with my load and feeling like my wheels are spinning as I try to haul too heavy of a load up the mountain.

Thankfully, I have a God who has been holding onto me through my struggling so that I haven’t completely fallen over the edge of the mountain yet. He’s been prompting me to shift my load and watching over me, ready to catch me if I start to derail.

As I seek God’s assistance, I have a feeling that there will be some “freight” that I need to drop off to lighten my load. There will probably be some “boxcars” that I’m going to have to disconnect from. My schedule will surely be changed, and there may be some stops that will no longer be assigned to me.

Whatever changes must be made in my future to help me get back on track, the One who can see the whole “railway system” will help me work things out. I need only keep my eyes on Him, listen for His plan and follow His direction. He knows the right track for me.

A Glimpse of Beauty Through the Darkness

Posted on by Paula
The small glimpse of the sunset that I viewed through the portal reminded me of our tiny glimpse of God and the home he is preparing for us in heaven.
A Glimpse of the Sunset Through the Dark Wall of Clouds that Surrounded It

I couldn’t wait to see what the magnificent Artist would paint. Even more than wanting to enjoy the sunset, I wanted to savor my time with the One who was painting it and to take in his splendor and majesty. I longed to see a glimpse of his beauty through the darkness.

It appeared to be mostly clear that Tuesday evening, but as the sun began to sink, I could see that the wall of clouds was going to block my view. This was the third night on vacation that I had paused to watch the sunset. Sunday turned out too cloudy. It was behind me as we drove back to the rental home on Monday. Now, I was disappointed again, but I remained seated in silence at the end of the dock. Rather than focus on the dark wall that fought to ruin my experience, I decided to watch for any beauty that might shine through. God can still put on a brilliant show when when the clouds hide part of his canvas, and Tuesday night was no exception.

The still water below reflected the light that bounced off of the highest clouds. I began thinking that the water was prettier than the sky until I noticed that there was a small opening through the clouds. Beyond the dark wall, I could see the bright and vivid colors of the setting sun. It looked like a warm and glowing little haven surrounded by darkness.

I was drawn into this window into the heavens and focused in to see what the Master Artist was creating. As I gazed at this tiny portion of the sky, I realized that somewhere on the other side of the wall of clouds blocking my view, someone could see the full view of God’s breathtaking creation.

The small glimpse of the sunset that I viewed through the portal reminded me of our tiny glimpse of God and the home he is preparing for us in heaven. Just as a wall of clouds can sometimes block our view of the sun and the beautiful show of color it adds to the sky as it shines on the clouds, life can sometimes block our view of the Son and his beautiful reflection visible through his creation and his family.

When we take the time to look, we can see our Creator’s brush strokes all around us. We can see his work in the stars, the moon, the sand, the grass, the mountains, the meadows, the rivers, the oceans, the flowers, the trees, the animals and all of his fascinating creations around us. We receive a sample of his goodness, mercy, kindness, love and grace as his Spirit works in and through his children.  We experience a taste of his presence and what life will be like with him in heaven as his Spirit provides for us comfort, peace and joy here on earth.

As long as we live here on earth, there will be trials and tribulations. When the darkness starts closing in, we must watch for the places where the Son is shining through the gloominess and obscurity.  We must look for the Master’s hand in his beautiful creation around us. We must seek his Spirit for joy, comfort and peace. We must wait for his touch that comes both through his Spirit in us and through his children around us. He is with us through the struggles; we only need to shift our focus to him to find a glimpse of beauty through the darkness.

In the Quiet

Posted on by Paula
I had intended to end my little break after viewing the sunset, but I lingered after dark watching the stars appear.
The Stars Appeared

I spent the day enjoying my family, but as the sun started to go down, I slipped away by myself. With many things on my heart, I began to pray, “Lord, I don’t know what to do, but my eyes are on you” (2 Chronicles 20:12) and “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me” (Psalm 55:10). I tend to be a woman with way too many words, but in this moment, I simply prayed those two short Scriptures and sat in silence, watching the sun begin to set on the distant horizon.

The Sunset Lacked the Bright, Colorful Hues that One Would Expect
The Sunset

The sky was cloudy, and the sunset might have been considered disappointing since it lacked the bright, colorful hues one would expect. However, I still sat mesmerized as night began to fall around me. Everything was so quiet and still.

More Scripture began to pop into my mind. “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth” (Psalm 46:10). “Listen to this, O Job; stop and consider God’s wonders” (Job 37:14). “…only one thing is needed” (Luke 10:42). “The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still” (Exodus 14:14).

My mind and my body have been in overdrive lately. There has been work to be done, problems to be solved and people to care for. I was worn and knew something needed to change. My heart had been longing to hear from God, so I waited in his presence as he called me to be still.

I had intended to end my little break after viewing the sunset, but I lingered after dark watching the stars appear. My family would occasionally call out to me, but I couldn’t pull myself away.

In those few quiet hours, I was able to stop focusing on my current situation and simply focus on God. My mind turned from wondering what God wanted me to do, to remembering how wonderful God is. He is amazing. He is all-knowing. He is in control. He is Lord. He is everything I need.

Peace washed over me as I basked in God’s love. My soul was content as I sat at his feet. I went to bed thankful for my sweet experience with him in the quiet.