Churchnecks

September 24, 2007

You’ve got rednecks, longnecks, bottlenecks, roughnecks, turtlenecks, leatherneck and those that are moving at breakneck speed. So why not churchnecks – those are people that stop long enough to feed on the Word of God.

Christian Author Marion Smith tells a story of what came to her mind as she watched a bulldozer at work along the coast of Florida.

“The bulldozer was plowing through a strip of land between the north and south highway U.S.1 in Delray Beach. Toppled Australian pines were piled in a heap, waiting to be hauled away. The black soil was churning as the blade of the dozer forged ahead at a slow speed. There were about 50 white birds on the scene, hunting and pecking in a furious manner. They were so intent on the job at hand, I was afraid the blade would wipe some of them out! Their long legs took them here and fro, as they bent their long necks to the ground. Their pointed bills moved rapidly along the ground gathering whatever nourishment was available for them in the soil.

My husband said the bulldozer was unearthing a multitude of hidden bugs and grubs, a veritable feast for these birds. That blade churning the earth was making a hidden banquet available for this flock of fortunate feathered ones.

There are times when I need God's Word and His plan to be dug up and places before me. This need is filled when I attend church, because I always walk away feeling full and satisfied. The minister, prayer leader, choir, and hymns are like the bulldozer. They turn up and bring to the surface all of God's good nibbles for me to partake in. They unearth many truths of the scripture using song, sermon and prayer, and I partake of all that has been made available to me during the service. Just like the birds kept their beak to the ground, I keep my heart open and close to the source of nourishment”.

It is sometimes difficult to get our young people to church. You’ve heard all the excuses – no need to go there. Just want to send encouragement to parents to persevere with your teens attending church with the family. Nature again is an example of how we are all like the flock of hungry birds waiting to be fed. Being Churchnecks’ is only one way to feed on the goodness of the Lord. There are fun and fattening things being served up in this world that are intended to destroy our youth. Our homes need to be a place of blessing that promote growth in the Lord. Keep your hearts connected to Jesus.

String a pearl: A word for young and old: If you are wise, your mind is set on what is morally right and that will lean towards power and honor. If you are foolish, you will gravitate towards what is wrong and that will get you in trouble. “A few dead flies in perfume make all of it stink, and a little foolishness outweighs a lot of wisdom. Sensible thoughts lead you to do right; foolish thoughts lead you to do wrong”.

- Ecclesiastes 10:1-2

You know you are a churchneck
When you glow after church service

You are loved,
Lyndi

YOU DECIDE by Sister Krista - America Samoa

Approaching Storm at Sunrise

Vatia bay, Tutuila Island.
National Park of American Samoa

Decisions, Decisions!


I woke up this morning and I was reminded that I am the master of my destiny. Yes my steps are ordered of the Lord, and yes He directs my path...but I determine the quality of life I live.

This morning I woke up a little achy and sore, and I was still a bit tired. I don't know maybe I just slept in an awkward position or didn't stretch out enough or got too much sleep....but as I was stretching out it came.....this feeling.....like I was sluggish, not feeling very energetic, and not very excited about the start of a new day....that was it, the bait, the moment of decision that was going to make the difference in the kind of day I was going to have. I had to decide right there if I was going to let my body tell me my future or if I was going to tell my body it's future.

This is the day that the Lord has made.....need I say more. I brought my body into subjection and let the Word of God determine the kind of day it was going to be. So I got dressed, put on my walking shoes and thanked God the whole way into work. And guess what? By the time I got into the bookstore my body had given up and lined up with what my lips had declared and the bait that the enemy set out to trip me up....well I must have stepped right over it along the way too.

Brethren, remember we decide, we are the master's of our day. Expect good, speak life, and be a light. Resist anything and everything that is not God's will for you.

Life and death are in the power of the tongue....so be a fountain of blessing to yourself and to those around you and as you water you too shall be watered and increased.

So what kind of day is it going to be today. You decide.

There I grow again!

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him." James 1:1-2, 12

Life is a struggle! It’s ever changing and a bit irritating at times. There are moments of time when life is so painful that it is hard to breathe and your heart is on edge. And of course life is sprinkled with the occasions where thinking isn’t imperative and smiling is easy.

Often observing nature we are more able to see the advantages that God created in strife. For example the Great Barrier Reef that stretches 1,800 miles from New Guinea to Australia. On one side of the reef the lagoon looks pale and lifeless, while the ocean side is vibrant and full of color. What causes that stark difference?

The coral around the lagoon side is in still water, with no challenge for its survival. It dies early. The coral on the ocean side is continually being tested by wind, waves, and storms in constant surges of power. It has to fight for survival every day of its life. As it is challenged and tested it changes and adapts. It grows healthy, strong and it reproduces. The result is magnificent beauty.

A pearl to string: As you look back on your life there are many places you can point to and say, ‘there I grow again’! If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it. Just remember He has a purpose for your growth and that is your pearl to discover and string. Try to view yourself through your Father’s eyes. God’s intended result is His child’s magnificent beauty.

Joyfully growing in Jesus,
Lyndi

A Poem of Many Grandmothers

September 2007
Please feel free to add your expression of love in the comment section and
I'll add your love for your grandmother/mother/mothe-in-love to the poem

A love that has pried
A love that has prayed
(Lyndi, Denver, CO)
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A butterfly’s touch, the brush of a soft feather, the beauty of the white dove
Always remind me of the gentle love & wisdom shown in my mother’s hands.
(Louise, Superior, CO)
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Hands that have pain, but
Hands that still soothe.
(Kaye Davenport, Houston TX)
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My Grandmother smiled
As she prayed for each child.
(Shirley, Boulder, CO)
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A love that loves you unconditionally
A love that loves you absolutely!

A love that kisses the palm of your hand & tells you to hold onto that kiss all day long.
A love that looks at you with grateful, loving eyes & tells you – you belong.

A love that tells you – you are as beautiful as a flower.
A love that gives you enough cookies and milk to last an hour.
(Carolyn, Arvada, CO)
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A tear cried for joy
A tear cried for sorrow
(Sandee, Denver, CO)
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Love is a tiny little gold wedding band
On her chubby little hands.
(Denise, Detroit, MI)
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Running my fingers across my Megan’s beautiful flawless face
Saying your face little one is so beautiful.
And she ran hers across mine and said, Memaw, yours looks like lace.
(Judy, Atlanta, GA)
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Hands that God will lift me to His side and there
I will use these hands to touch the face of Christ.
(Jane, Porter Ranch, CA)

What is Prettier than Freckles?

An elderly woman and her little grandson, whose face was sprinkled with bright freckles, spent the day at the zoo. Lots of children were waiting in line to get their cheeks painted by a local artist who was decorating them with tiger paws.

"You've got so many freckles, there's no place to paint!" a girl in the line said to the little fellow. Embarrassed, the little boy dropped his head. His grandmother knelt down next to him. "I love your freckles. When I was a little girl, I always wanted freckles," she said, while tracing her finger across the child's cheek. "Freckles are beautiful."

The boy looked up, "Really?"

"Of course," said the grandmother. "Why just name me one thing that's prettier than freckles?"

The little boy thought for a moment, peered intensely into his grandma's face, and softly whispered, "Wrinkles." --Unknown

That is so precious – brought tears to my eyes. It reminded me of a moving poem from a blog I read recently. There are several blogs I visit nearly every day. One that continually inspires me is done by a lovely young photographer named Sandrine. She wrote a poignant poem about her grandmother coupled with her exquisite photos that deeply touched my heart. I gaze at her grandmother’s hands holding a photo of her family and thought of all the elements of a woman’s life. Really, really amazing how God made woman and all she does. (Man too – I’m just focusing on women right now) I think about my own grandmothers, my mom and mother in love. Blissful treasured memories swirl through my mind and I find myself longing to express my recollections too.

Then this thought came to me. I bet there are a few other people that would love to express a line or two about their grandmothers. I wouldn’t want to add to Sandrine’s poem for it is intensely personal to her but what if we, together, wrote A Poem of Many Grandmothers inspired by Sandrine? Let's try it and see where God leads.

Her Hands

Hands that have tickled
Hands that have played

Hands that have fed
Hands that have healed

Hands that have served
Hands that have labored

Hands that have comforted
Hands that have suffered

Hands that have sacrificed
Hands that have received

Hands that have loved
Hands that are loved©

Her Hands Poem & Photographs by
SANDRINE
My 97 year old Grandma's aged hands...

A pearl to string: It takes a long time to grow to Grandmother. It seems like a lifetime to me. Love is patient, love is kind. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. (1 Corinthians 13.4a, 13.7-8a)

Add your own memory line with name, city, state, and country in the comment section at the end of this column. As they come in I’ll put them all together under the title:

A Poem of Many Grandmothers.

A love that has pried
A love that has prayed (Lyndi -Denver CO USA)

BLUE BY YOU

A Touch of Blue
photograph
by SANDRINE

Years ago when I was hurting so bad I had to pull my sox down to see (ones' spirit can’t get much lower than that) I came across a story about a young man who got to trade his cross in. Now if someone had given me the story at the time of my joylessness I might have formed some bad words at the base of my brain and disregarded the well intended gift. Some people just have to come across wisdom or they won’t listen.

THE CROSS ROOM
The young man was at the end of his rope.
Seeing no way out, he dropped to his knees in prayer.
"Lord, I can't go on," he said.
"I have too heavy a cross to bear."
The Lord replied,
"My son, if you can’t bear its weight, just places your cross inside this room.
Then open another door and pick any cross you wish."
The man was filled with relief.
"Thank you, Lord," he sighed, and did as he was told.
As he looked around the room he saw many different crosses;
some so large the tops were not visible.
Then he spotted a tiny cross leaning against a far wall.
"I'd like that one, Lord," he whispered.
And the Lord replied, "My son, that's the cross you brought in."
-Unknown

When we are hurting the size of our cross always feels too big to endure but it is never too big for God. He tells us in Matthew 11:28-29 “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

The Lord gave me something special today. I was praying for a young Mother whose harried life piles up all around her from time to time. There are moments when a body just crashes smack dab into those piles and an immediate melt down occurs. Though life swirls at a crazy pace around you at times and of course you get tired, maybe a bit addle brained, maybe cross, and maybe teary - those are the stops of life. It’s difficult to think, learn, or receive love while moving faster than a speeding bullet.

A pearl to string: So if you have a blue by you today - things that make you stop in life. Those things are not negative though they always appear so. I think of them as hugs from Jesus so He can slow me down long enough to bless me, alert me, teach me, guide me or heal me all while I am safely in my Father’s loving embrace.

Consider this moment a stop.
Let Him embrace you right now,
Lyndi

Lord I need blogging protection

Dear Lord,

So far today, I am ok.
I have not gossiped, or lost my temper.
I have not been greedy, grumpy, nasty, selfish, or self-indulgent.
I have not whined, complained, cursed, or eaten any chocolate.
I have charged nothing on my credit card. Nor have I hotlinked - I don't think?





But I will be getting out of bed in a minute, and I think that I will really need your help then. Amen