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TRUST

27 Apr

Hands and World

By Linda J. Humes

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:5 – 6 KJV

Trust. An interesting concept. What is trust? Trust is traveling down a highway at 65 MPH with another vehicle bearing down on you from the opposite direction at the same speed – knowing that they won’t cross the double yellow line that separates you. Trust is running 75 MPH up a mountain grade, zipping past the big rigs struggling at 30 MPH to make the grade and knowing they aren’t going to cross that dotted white line and pull in front of you.

Every day we stand on that trust, even though we’ve seen the evidence of betrayed trust along the way – figure eight skid-marks, pieces of vehicles and flares along the road, even one retaining wall in Phoenix which had been scrapped black from an impact and someone had painted a red cross in the center. Momentary diversions. If we dwell on the betrayed trust we wouldn’t be able to function in transportation – fear would overwhelm us and we would remain paralyzed. We MUST remain in trust.

If I can trust completely in strangers in my everyday travels – why do I struggle in trusting that God will honor His word?

Recently our family had gone through critical medical and financial crisis. I knew in my heart that God could provide for our needs – for healing – for the medical expenses – for our food and shelter. But in my mind it was too big. How could I help make it happen – ever been there??

I looked around for extra work, there wasn’t any. I tried putting things out in front of our home to sell – a car hit the items and they were ruined. We called everywhere we could think of for assistance – we didn’t qualify. Every door closed around us – God wanted us to know that He was in control. He WAS! Healing came. Food boxes and grocery gift cards came. Every bill has been paid to date. Praise God! I don’t know how He did it; I only know that He did. I trust that he will continue until this crisis has ended.

Trust. Interesting concept. What is it? It’s knowing that if I walk humbly and faithfully in His ways, He will be there to meet my needs. It’s knowing that no matter how much I try, I can’t. It’s knowing that my Heavenly Father loves me more than I could ever fathom and wants His perfect plan for my life. It’s knowing that all I have to do is call His Name and He will be there beside me.

In that I trust.

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DANCING ON THE WIND

27 Apr

Birds Flying

By Linda J. Humes

Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28 (KJV)

On my weekly trip from Phoenix, up the mountain toward home, there’s a stretch of highway that has been cut through the mountain. Signs warn as you drive this section that there are strong crosswinds that run through where the mountain falls sharply to a crevasse then back to the protection of the carved out mountain. I’ve been given a good shake there many times; jolting me to a stronger grip on the wheel and a sharper eye on the road. One day I heard God telling me to pay attention to the beauty, not to worry so much about the dangers.

At first I thought I was supposed to see the beautiful striations of the mountain side, skillfully sliced away by the highway builders; brown, gray, white and gold pictures, drawn by the hand of God. Then there was the beautiful vegetation that peeked through at the high transit speed. Saguaros give way to high desert scrub at that point, all in bloom in spring.

One day I noticed the smallest mark on the sky, moving from left to right and back again over the highway, traveling up high and back down again. Then there was another and another. They were falcons, dancing on the wind. They rode the crosswinds, swooping down to easy sight, then catching the wind upward again, wings spread so wide that the feathers at the wing tips looked like fingers caressing the sky. They danced and played and found such freedom on the breath of God. Praise you Jesus – I felt freedom just watching them – I felt such peace.

It’s so easy for me to move from chore to chore – get up – eat – work – drive home – worry about getting everything done – stressing out – and all the time God is calling out “look for Me – I will give you rest, I will give you peace – look for Me.” When I opened my eyes to God, my drive no longer became a chore but a blessing.

I have seen as many as 15 birds at a time in that stretch. I always experience the same immediate calm – peace. I wonder how many other times God has called to me to look for Him in a difficult situation, and I was too overwhelmed to listen.

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” I’m so thankful that we have a God who loves us so much that He never stops calling our name.

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SHRINE

27 Apr

Shrine

By Linda J. Humes

“We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.” 2 Corinthians 5:8

It breaks my heart. Every time I pass by a part of me rips. It drives me to an urgency of prayer. Shrines – ornate piles of mementos placed along the side of a road at a point where a life was lost. Not a simple white cross, but a memorial of treasures, family pictures, candles, flowers, trees, elaborate crosses, balloons, clothing, even a whiskey bottle decorates one near my home. Paths to the shrine are kept raked and clean, a row of rocks line each side of the path. Someone spends hours of time showing their love for one lost. This is only one example of many that are scattered throughout the community.

It is difficult to know much about the one being memorialized, but the ones left behind are the ones I grieve for. Do they believe the “ghost” of the loved one lingers there to enjoy the birthday banners, Christmas trees, stuffed Easter Bunny, or the framed photos that are changed every few months? Do they think a disembodied soul floats about, mourning and waiting for the living to remember them at holidays?

I pray continually that God would send someone to the keepers of the shrine, to let them know the peace of letting go. To let them know that there is more to life than animate mementos of life. To let them know about Jesus. To show them His great love. To give them the security of knowing that to be absent from the body is to be in the presence of God. That our peace after death is completely dependent upon our relationship with Christ, not on those who have stayed behind.

I don’t know who tends the shrines, but I know my God. I know that every prayer I utter meets the ears of my Creator, and I know that He can bring the right person, with the right words, at the right time, to touch their hearts and direct their souls.

Jesus, if that person is me – show me the way.

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THISTLE

27 Apr

Thistle

“The wind bloweth where it listeth, and thou hearest the sound thereof, but canst not tell whence it cometh, and whither it goeth: so is every one that is born of the Spirit.” John 3:8

I live in an area where wild flowers grace the hills and valleys for months, changing colors in wonderful blankets of purple, white and yellow. Their blooms smile upward as cold winter winds turn to warm spring breezes. Beautiful flowers, once planted in domestic beds, moved about by the constant winds that blow here.

Those flowers that remain in beds grow full and lush, tended by caring hands. Those that grow wild are small; their roots are shallow, for lack of water, of cultivated soil, of carefully added nutrients.

I’m always delighted by the wild alyssum, snap dragons, morning glories and evening primrose that pop-up in my yard. When the leaves first surface I contemplate the color and shape – is it weed or flower? Do I pluck it out or wait and see. I wait.

Even the sharp prickly thistle, easily recognized, I leave unharmed until the beautiful purple flower has shown its glory. Being careful to remove the entire plant before the delicate petals turn to seeds and parachute away on the wings of the wind.

I wonder if that is similar to the way God looks down on us – His children. Watching as the tiniest green leaf breaks the soil. Watching to see whether we grow as a flower in His glory – or branch out prickly branches while charismatically enticing the unsuspecting with temporary beauty.

When He sees a heart of tenderness, is that when He sends the caretaker that removes the weeds and tares that surround us, stealing our nutrients, crowding our lives, restricting our growth or causing death? Does He watch as we sit at the edge of sin, enjoying the temporary beauty – wondering if we will grab onto the seed after the flower is gone, flying away to watch the sin replant and bloom and float and replant and bloom and float . . . . Does He watch to see if we will pluck the sin away, to the deepest depth of its root; at first sight – or maybe just in time?

I wonder what Jesus saw when He looked down from the cross that fate-filled day; was it the lilies of the field that took His breath? Was it carefully raised, tender plants that chose to leave on the winds of changing doctrine? Or was it the thistles and the crown of thorns that threatened His children?

I wonder if He cried out for the new leaves breaking the surface of the earth, searching, seeking for a drop of moisture – for a chance to bloom. Or was His cry for you – was it perhaps for me?

Yes, I believe it was.

———-

** The Road To Emmaus

By Linda J. Humes

Written 6-25-2004

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Watching

19 Apr

horses

By Linda J. Humes
4/19/13

“Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors.” Proverbs 8:34 (KJV)

One of the wonderful blessings of living in Northern Arizona is the wide open land I travel through every day to work. I get to cherish God’s handiwork of fields, hills, clouds, sunrises, sunsets and the animals that roam the area.

At one point along my route there is a herd of about 20 horses. If I pass them by 7:50am they are all in a line against the fence, all facing northeast, toward the highway headed into Holbrook; every head is lifted, ear perked, intent, expectant, waiting. If I pass them closer to 8:00am they are back in the field, in a circle, all heads together down at the ground, eating the hay and oats delivered to them. No fussing, no fighting, no pushing; savoring their meal in peace, knowing each will receive enough. The rest of the day they graze the fields, each going their own different way.

Lord, I want to be like that. I want to wake up every morning and intently, expectantly seek you. I want to wait patiently until I hear you, see you, feel you, without distraction. And when you have met me, I want to eat of Your word, delight in Your presence, find peace in my relationship with You, before I step out into my busy day. I want to.

Why do I allow necessities to get into the way? I get up earlier and necessities swell. I look for quiet, but I find noise. I pray for a simpler time. Lord, I’m tired.

Pull me up Lord, into Your presence, as I do my chores, dress for the day and drive the road to work. Strengthen our relationship with every moment we share. Let me rest in You between every phone call and pen stroke. Let me be ever aware of Your unceasing love, drawing me on through the difficulties of the day. Keep me mindful of those around that I need to share your peace and joy with, even when the pressures of the moment try to push them from my day. I need you and the joy and confidence you put into my life. Help me to share it Lord, with my every word and action.

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THE MOUSE IN THE POPCORN PAN

31 Mar

By Linda J. Humes

When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. Isaiah 43:2 (KJV)

mouseBy Linda J. Humes

During World War II my Grandparents supported themselves by owning and running a popcorn stand. They lived near a military base and on the weekends the soldiers would come to town to watch movies in an outdoor theatre. My Grandparents strategically set up their stand near the entrance to the theatre and sold the buttery delight to the hungry soldiers.

All my life I can remember a pan of popcorn in the oven. It became a family tradition. If you visited Grandma’s or Mom’s house and had a snack attack, you grabbed a bowl and raided the oven. Popcorn became more than a staple or a snack, it was comfort food.

When I started my family and raised my boys the popcorn pan was always there. When you have a gas stove, as we have, the popcorn stays warm and crispy from the heat of the pilot light – what a delight!

A few months ago I grabbed my bowl and headed for the oven – I could already taste the treat that awaited. I opened the door and to my surprise – a mouse was sitting squarely in the middle of my popcorn pan, stuffing his little self. I closed the door.

Wow. My first thought went to “I wonder how long he’s been doing that” and then quickly convinced myself that this HAD to be the first time – and it certainly was going to be the last. Convincing myself of this was the only way I could get my stomach to settle back down.

“What did you learn,” God asked. Convicted. That mouse wanted that popcorn so bad that he went past a large pilot light flame, up through the heating holes, across a hot oven floor, and into the pan. He went past the dog bowls and cat bowls, with food in them. He went past the bowl of scraps for the chicken coop. He knew what he wanted and he went past the fire and across the heat to get there. He desired the sweet savor that awaited. Oh, my Lord.

How often have I backed away instead of pressing into God because of a “fire” that stood in my path? How many times have I cut my Bible study or prayer time short because of the heat of daily life driving me to complete arduous tasks that have no eternal value? How many times have I been in the middle of a trial and screamed out “God, it’s too hard!”

My, my. A little mouse in a popcorn pan put me to shame. My true desire is to always run to the arms of God when storms rise – but my human side says “take shelter.” Then when I shake off that immediate fear, I turn back. I keep promising myself that the “next time” I’ll head straight in toward Jesus – no matter what. I can taste the sweet savor now. Delightful.

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