Spiked Flies

August 1, 2007

From the book, Windows On God’s World, by James A Tucker comes a story about a young scientist who won first prize in a high school science fair with an exhibit of her experiments with spiders and their webs. Her project involved a comparison between the webs spun by normal spiders and those spun by spiders under the influence of alcohol.

At first the girl collected a number of common house spiders for her experiment, but she had difficulty with them. When she injected the wine directly into them, they all dropped dead. Then she adopted the plan of feeding wine-injected flies to the spiders. The spiders did not die, but they did not spin webs, either. Somewhat discouraged, she took her problem to her teacher and learned that house spiders are not much for making webs. They simply make strands of silk that are strung in all directions with no particular pattern. She was advised to find some of the common garden species, long know for their talent for constructing beautiful orb webs.

Thus encouraged, the girl again got busy with her project. She found a number of garden spiders and fed them wine-injected flies. This time her efforts were rewarded. The drunken spiders began to spin all sorts of wild and unorganized webs that did not at all resemble the intricate and near-perfect designs they were able to spin under normal circumstances.
After eating the spiked flies, a spider would begin spinning frantically, totally without method or reason. And the tipsy creature would keep on spinning without stopping until it passed out cold. I wonder if that drunk spider was near the computer – hummm – maybe that’s how we got web pages? Groan! Just checking to see if you’re still with me!

A pearl to string: In all good consciousness one should not plan to eat spiked flies. The Bible tells us that God has a superb design for our lives. We have something beautiful to do for our Lord and we don’t want to get drunk on the ways of the world and go web crazy! “He leans on his web, but it gives way; he clings to it, but it does not hold”. (Job 8:15) See! It’s all in the Good Book. Every direction we need to follow Jesus. It’s all written down for us. How cool is that. So dear hearts “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ”. (Colossians 2:8) And “Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is–his good, pleasing and perfect will”. (Romans 12:2)

Delighting in His Word,
Lyndi

Something beautiful to do - something for each one

Miraculous Response to Prayer by Shirley Bruns

Forty-eight years ago today, (7/26) our youngest son, Steve, was born in Tokyo. Birthing him was an experience different from what had occurred during the births of my other children. The young technician who connected me with the tube containing liquid to induce labor had forgotten something.

"I have to find a clamp," she said. "I'll be right back". She hurried out of the room. However, it took longer than she anticipated, and by the time she returned with the clamp meant to control the rate of the drips into my vein, I was in full labor. She apologized, but there was little she could do. I could pray! Forty-five minutes had elapsed from the beginning of the procedure to the time of Steve's birth. I have been told that this could have resulted in the death of both myself and my child. I thanked God for sparing our lives.

After a week, we left the hospital for our home. Tokyo is a hot, humid, uncomfortable place in which to live in mid-summer, and with a baby with heat rash, we were eager to travel up to the mountains near Nagano. There we could spend a few cool weeks in our little cabin on a hillside near a lake, and enjoy the company of other missionary families from the United States and Europe who summered there. So we packed our bags and took off with our children for Lake Nojiri.

We did have a concern - while still in the hospital, one of our baby's breasts began to show signs of a possible infection. Our doctor seemed to think it would be all right in a few days, but by the time we arrived in Nojiri, it had become worse. The services of a young Japanese doctor from a Christian hospital had been arranged for the use of those of us who came during the summer. During mid-afternoon of the first day after our arrival, we took Steve over the hillside to the doctor's clinic for a check-up.

The news was devastating! The doctor's diagnosis was that he had developed a staph infection, and although he prescribed medication, our baby, since he was so young, would have only a 50/50 chance of survival. I asked him what would be signs that would indicate the medications weren't working, and that we might lose him. He said that if his slight fever suddenly developed into a high fever, that would be the first sign.

We watched him carefully for the rest of the day, and we prayed for his healing. At night, while everyone else was asleep, I was still awake, concerned about Steve. It was a very dark, moonless night. On the side of our hill, there were no street lights. It was completely dark inside our bedroom. . .I could not see a thing. Every so often, I would slip out of bed and feel my way over to the baby crib and carefully place my hand where I thought Steve's head would be to check his temperature. For awhile, there seemed to be no change, and then. . .suddenly, my hand came in contact with a very, very hot little forehead. I immediately straightened up, and standing beside the bed, with eyes open, I began praying for a miracle. . .for God to heal Steve. . .to spare his life.

And then that's when I saw something I had never seen before: against the darkness of the room there appeared to be white, milkish-colored streams of light moving around the room. . .up and down and around in swirls. I had a tingling sensation throughout my entire body. "That has to represent God", I thought. "He's letting me know He's here with us, and will heal my little boy." And then the swirls disappeared.

Confidently, I put my hand upon his head. . .where just a few moments ago it had been extremely hot, now it felt completely normal!!!!! God had performed a wonderful miracle before my eyes, and allowed me to see and feel His presence.

No one can ever convince me that there is not a God who loves us and answers our prayers!!!!
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Shirley Bruns
July 26, 2007

P.S. Steve is now a pastor in a large church in Norway where God has been blessing his and his wife, Anne Kristin's ministries. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!!!!

As the "Tude Turns"

July 25, 2007

I love to rock my world by reading books about attitude – more succinctly – changing ones attitude. One of my most loved books on the subject is Patsy Clairmont’s, “Sportin’ a ‘Tude” – a delightful look at the ordinary changes in life. In order to maintain balance and keep a steadfast focus of my direction I make lists …..lots of lists. Do you make lists? There’s hope for us. The queen of list makers, Barbara Ann Kipfer, has a best-selling book out called, “14,000 Things to be Happy About?” Now there’s a list. It’s a 611-page list of one item after another of things she celebrates or brings to attention. They are small tiny things to bring a smile, as well as gigantic things that make you laugh any of which can make a life-changing difference in how you look at life. The cover calls it "mesmerizing" …… huh ……. interesting …… no one ever called my lists mesmerizing! The challenge is to come up with something that isn’t in there.

Here's a small sampling: hayrack rides, soft robes to settle into, trouser pockets chortling with change, fondue sets, the bus arriving on time and with empty seats, free makeup samples, dogs leaning against your legs, pink-cheeked faces in knit hats, the sense of promise inherent in the start of a new year, remembering when jeans were only for play, egg-in-the-hole and bacon, a tractor inner tube (to float on), a trout pond, playing kick the can, children at recess, bowling leagues.It is interesting the memories or thoughts a list of this kind conjures up. Some are profound: the silence of close friendship, smile lines, a quiet observer, 100-watt eyes, saying yes, facing the truth.Some instantly bring a smile: when your fingertips have shriveled to prunes, and you're clean enough to put on fresh pajamas. While we're on that topic, clean sheets have also got to be on that list, I'm sure. Oh and add licking off a dasher of homemade ice cream.

Where do we get a critical spirit, and where do negative thoughts and attitudes come from? Is that jealousy or our own feelings of inadequacy? Can we blame it on genetic make up? Perhaps life's experiences, or our own internal chemistry or maybe it’s like a cold – very easy to catch in the world we live.

A pearl to string: Seeking the attitude of Christ will bring an abundance of His grace. God’s word says, “Finally, brothers & sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things”. Philippians 4:8 Don’t you just know God starts everything and He was the first list maker! So maybe follow His lead and start your own list: picking up a daughter or son at the airport, the sounds and smells of fresh coffee brewing, tearing open a paycheck envelope, a houseful of sleeping family members, and the holy hush when everyone quiets and a service of worship begins. Surround yourself with the goodness the Lord brings into your lives.

As the ‘tude turns may He richly bless you,
Lyndi

The Power of Prayer by Shirley Bruns

This testimony from a precious friend, Shirley Bruns, is just too good not to share. Watch how the Lord worked a miracle for believing hearts.
Lyndi. . .

Finally, I've gotten to my computer and can share with you two of God's miracles I have experienced during my twenty years as a missionary in Japan, beginning in 1948.
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In the summer of 1954, while my husband and I were living in Mito, the capital city of Ibaraki Prefecture, north of Tokyo, we started out one summer morning on an excursion with our young son, and a Japanese pastor and his wife, deep into the hillsides near our home. With the Ushioda's, we had been ministering to former members of Japan's Imperial Army who had been repatriated there after World War II. One of these repatriates who had been a member of former Captain and now Pastor Ushioda's unit during the war, had invited all of us to come pick some strawberries on his "homestead".

For several days, there had been rainfalls, and the roads over which more oxen-drawn wagons had been driven than automobiles, were not in prime condition. In fact, the further we drove up and down the rolling hills on the narrow, slippery roads, the more treacherous they seemed to become. There was no way we could turn around or back up. We wondered how we would be able to traverse them on the return trip.

After gathering our fruit, we expressed our concern to the farmer, and asked him if there might be another route back to Mito. He could not guarantee the road would be any better, but told us we could keep going ahead on the same road for several kilometers after which it began its descent into the city. Any alternate suggestion seemed preferable.

And so off we went, with prayers for God's protection in our hearts! We drove slowly for a short ways before reaching a left turn around the side of a tall hill, and discovered a little further on, there had been a "wash-out" of part of the road ahead. It was several yards longer than the length of our Austin Station Wagon, and since we were on the side of a "small mountain", we would not survive a drop off the edge.

All of us were praying for guidance. The men got out and walked around, and decided that if they could back up just far enough to get up some speed, they might be able to keep all four wheels on the "not too steep" hillside slope on our left, long enough to avoid the drop-off and get us on solid ground again.

I wanted to get out of the car with my little boy and "walk" the slope, but I was told we were needed for "ballast"! So, we backed up, "gunned" the engine and took off. The wheels were turned left at the proper place, and the car started up the slope. However, just before reaching the hole in the road, it slid back down. According to Physics' gravity law, we should have plunged down the side of the mountain. Not so. . .we flew right across the open space and landed safely on the other side. We stopped the car, and just sat quietly for awhile. Then, we got out, and walked back to where the miracle occurred. . . praising God for our deliverance.

I wish we had had a camera to record what we saw: car tracks right up to the place where our car left the road. . .and beginning again where we had landed.

Yes, I believe there is a God who loves us, and answers our prayers!

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Love to you,
Shirley

My Board of Directors

Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses . . .
let us run with endurance the race that is set before us.
Hebrews 12:1

I read once, long ago, about the concept of each person acquiring a personal “board of directors” to implement a plan to preserve the well being and strength in your every day life. The people with this sphere of influence in your life could be alive today or have lived in the past, known to you personally or perhaps only known to you through their writings and accomplishments. They are the people from whom you would seek advice.

In Hebrews 11 we have many heroes of faith mentioned challenging us to "run with endurance the race that is set before us" (12:1-2). Throughout the Word of God there are people whose faith presents a wealth of help and encouragement for us all.

Who would you choose to be on your board of directors?

Who would I choose?

The chairman of my board of directors would be first and foremost Jesus Christ for it is His wisdom and direction I seek above all else. I have some spots open for appointment but as I begin to think about this I realize some spots have been occupied for years.

The 1st seat belongs to Onesiphorus; bless you! oh no, that wasn’t a sneeze! He’s been my hero since I was a little girl. He cheered his friend Paul and was not ashamed of him when he found him in prison. I’ve always wanted to bring cheer to everyone; friends, strangers, and even mean people. Sometimes especially mean people – they steal the joy of life - you get them cheered up then all those around them can enjoy the moment.

The 2nd seat would be my grandmother, my mother’s mother who always turned me towards the Lord. She taught me the difference between conviction and condemnation. And she gave me a life long song to sing from my soul.

My beloved husband would occupy the 3rd seat. As the head of our household he brought to each one of our family members a pathway to salvation. He provided spiritual events through the years which would allow each individual to invite Jesus into their heart to be their Savior and Lord of their life. As a wife and mother who has a few years of life experience there is nothing more important to my heart than my husband and my children having a heart for God.

The 4th seat has to be a long couch for there sit the ladies who lived the heart and soul of my days on earth with me. They represent time segments of my adult days on earth. They are treasures of solace and wisdom and joy and laughter. When I see them it lights up portions of my life that lie dormant and allows me to celebrate all of who I am. It is these trusted friendships that taught me compassion by way of sliding into the center of each others broken heart. We have shared deeply feeling the sobbing of our souls – the raw, red crucible of emotional agony. We have heard each others silent screams and wept side by side. When you’ve shared the pain of life so deeply that your soul is wretched with your friend’s pain then the healing touch from the Lord comes for two. When you are hurting badly you need someone to love you deeply. It’s that kind of love that lights up my life.

Seat 5 has been occupied by my she-ro (lady hero). Mary, mother of our Lord Jesus. Mary never threw hissy fits. Not only would I like to emulate her ladylike demeanor but I aspire to her Holy Spirit lead courage and I find no one else on earth like her. One would need immense courage to give birth to and rear your own Savior and then witness His crucifixion. These are events worthy of deep contemplation. It hurts my heart that there are so few women in public places that are Godly examples. The young women of today seem more interested in competing with men in politics, business and athletics or being sexy, famous and dripping in money and bling bling. Women need lady heroes as their inner compass or their North Star – Mary is mind.

The 6th and final seat belongs to Dr. Peter Marshall, Scottish Pastor and Chaplin of the US Senate in the late 1940's. Though he died in 1949 and I never actually heard him preach I was mesmerized by the movie of his life in 1955. I wanted to marry a man who loved God like that. It confused me a little when reality wasn't as glamorous as a movie and it's challenging to move through life without music signaling changes. It took some time for God to bring my husband to the point of loving God with that same intensity and passion I saw in Dr. Peter Marshall but ah lass, my prayers were in fact answered.




Chairman of the Board – Jesus Christ – My Creator, Savior and Redeemer
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ never changes! He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

1st seat – Onesiphorus – my hero
2 Timothy 1:16 I pray that the Lord will be kind to the family of Onesiphorus. He often cheered me up and wasn't ashamed of me when I was put in jail.

2nd seat – Cora Maude Noe Chase 1873-1958 – My Gram
Luke 10:27 Gram loved the Lord with all her heart, all her soul, all her strength, all her understanding, and she loved her neighbors as herself.' She was an Onesiphorus too.

3rd seat – William Paul McCartney – My beloved husband
Joshua 24:15 Choose you this day whom you will serve: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.

4th seat - The couch of daily life: Barbara Gorman, Cheryl Szczepaniak, Alana McGuire, Karen Carr, Louise Christopher, Paulette Washington
Galatians 6:2 Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.
1 Peter 4:8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.

5th seat – Mary, Mother of our Lord Jesus
Luke 1:26.....38 ... the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a virgin engaged to Joseph, of the house of David. "Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you." "Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. Mary said to the angel, "How can this be since I am a virgin?" "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore, the child to be born will be holy; he will be called Son of God. Mary said, "Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word."

6th seat – Dr. Peter Marshall – Senate Chaplin
Psalm 107:9 For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.

Now you stop and think on your life for awhile and who has had great influence for good. Choose the people you would like as your Board of Directors. This exercise will bless you. Enjoy.

The Wait is Part of the Ride

July 18, 2007

Don’t you just love it when something so simple in life becomes a profound truth lesson from God? I had such an epiphany while reading our youngest son’s Faith Plus Life blog. God blessed Coach Wonderful and I with four exceptional children all of whom write well. They are each creative, talented and lovers of the Lord. Oh, you can’t tell I’m the mother …. really … it’s all true! Marc just graduated from Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California and enjoyed a mini vacation afterwards at Disney with his family. That’s where he discovered an incredible truth lesson from God in the midst of the ordinary. I let his own words describe the encounter.

The Wait is a part of the Ride!
By Marc McCartney
http://www.faithpluslife.blogspot.com/

One of the things that struck me visiting Disney was discovering that the wait was a part of the ride. Disney does an amazing job at creating an experience. They think of everything. They even call their employees Cast Members and it seems like most of them take on a “role” as they do their job. But what really got me this time was the waiting in line. Every ride had some sort of programming involved in the actual waiting area. For the Indiana Jones ride you walk through this amazing cavern underground to get to the ride. All along the way seeing different inscriptions or pieces of bamboo or jewels that take you to another place. In the Haunted Mansion you walk into a room to listen to a spooky recording. Then the room begins to stretch and spin and you begin to wonder if everything is going to be okay. In the Tower of Terror they take you back in the recesses of the hotel and stop in front of a furnace. This furnace helps to create a look that feels almost like a dungeon, all to get you into the right frame of mind before you ever step foot on the ride. They do all of this just to maximize your experience on the actual ride.

That got me thinking about my faith in Christ. The “rides” for me might be a chance to speak to a group about God. Or an opportunity to lead a mission trip. Or the planning and execution of one of our events that we do. My problem is that I don’t always treat the wait as a part of the ride. That’s a shame. I need to be more alert to the fact that every aspect of our lives is a part of the ride. God is never at rest. Life is always in motion. Even the moments that appear like waiting are opportunities to use our faith. I need to think more like the people who design the rides at Disney. I need to realize that the wait is a part of the ride. http://www.faithpluslife.blogspot.com/

A pearl to string: "All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God's grace in all its truth." (Colossians :6b NLT) I find it thrilling to continually discover God’s truths in my everyday life experiences. Growing and learning the things that are important to my Father. Thanks Marc for giving me a new perspective on lines.

Count it joy to wait on the Lord.
It’s part of the ride, Wheeeeeeeeeeeee ………… Love ya,
Lyndi

Finger Pointing

July 11, 2007

Finger Pointing
Lessons from the grandkids

Little Mallory ran into the house, crying as though her heart would break.

"Oh what's wrong, sweetheart?" I asked.

"My doll! Derek broke it!" she sobbed.

"How did he break it, Mallory?"

"I hit him over the head with it."

I had to turn away before I broke out in laughter. Oh my, don’t go to God with that one. That’s as old as the hills. As a matter of fact that old, old story began in the Garden of Eden. I think it is noteworthy that, after the sin committed by Adam and Eve, God asked Adam if he had eaten the fruit (even though He already knew the answer). It was a chance for Adam to be honest, an opportunity to take responsibility. Instead, Adam blamed Eve, Eve blamed the serpent, and ever since we have been pointing the finger at others for our transgressions.

"It wasn't my fault." "I couldn't help it." "He made me do it." We continue to point fingers, make accusations or justify our actions. All the while, God is hoping that we'll be honest enough to admit our mistakes, knowing that only then can we find forgiveness.

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives." (I John 1:9-10)

Is there anything you need to be honest about and own up to today?
He already knows so go ahead …. He’s giving you a chance – this moment is yours to de-clutter your heart.

String a pearl: Happiness depends on happenings, but joy depends on Christ. When my children were small I had a plaque in their rooms that read: God is watching you because He loves you so much He can’t keep His eyes off you.

Confessing to God will put a song in your heart and a smile on your face,
Lyndi

7-4-07 CHOICES

July 4, 2007

I trekked over to the grocery store to pick up some green olives the other day. Easy enough task – right? Not so fast Martha. Oh my goodness, thank goodness I didn’t ask Coach Wonderful to do that little errand. I might have found him climbing the walls. There are choices! A throng of choices!

Let’s see we’ve got Small Cretan Green Olives, Halkithiki Green Olives and Stuffed Green Olives (stuffed with a nut, an onion, a pimento, sun dried tomato, red peppers, Prosciutto, pickled garlic, feta cheese, blue cheese) There are Kalamata Red Olives - harvested in November. Those must be big!? Well that’s easy to eliminate from the choices they are not green but wait… here’s some black Kalamata olives – they are not green either but they are so good. Oh dear more choices there are Plum Olives, Wrinkled Black Olives? I never heard of such a thing. Ok, stick to the green. Very interesting, Cinnamon & Cloves Green Olives, Table Olives, Green olives with chillis, Green banana olives – huh? There are Agriniou green olives in brine, Sunita Organic Green Olives, plus your ever popular Spanish, Sicilian, Greek, Italian, French, Mediterranean and Australian green olives.

Just how in the world are you supposed to make a choice for heaven sake?

There are so many choices in this world on any given subject. It’s not just olives! It can make you a crazy person trying to figure out which choices are best. There are choices that look good but have no godly truth behind them and fail in the long haul. What used to be right has lost its splendour in our present day society. What use to be wrong is now politically correct. So?

Just how in the world are you supposed to make a choice for heaven sake?

A pearl to string: Here’s where the question becomes the answer. If you make choices for heaven’s sake then the world won’t be such a confusing place. Micah 6:8 tells us to do what He has shown us to be good. The Lord requires of us to do justly, (refrain from cheating, lying or stealing from others) to love mercy, (be willing to give second chances and beyond to others) and to walk humbly with our God. (In the shadow of His wing going His direction)

Leaning on Jesus,
Lyndi