A Labor of Love

John 16:21
A woman giving birth to a child has pain because her time has come; but when her baby is born she forgets the anguish because of her joy that a child is born into the world.


From the moment I find out that my daughter, Sarah, is expecting, I pray.

For the health of the child.  For Sarah's health during her pregnancy.  For a safe labor and delivery.

Because, I remember the excruciating pain of my own first labor.  Contractions so wildly intense I literally pass out between them.  The relief of an epidural and an emergency C-section arrive just in the nick of time.

I pray Sarah is not like me.  That she can experience a far less troubled labor and natural delivery.

Without.  Too.  Much.  Pain.

The due date is closing in . . .

John, Sarah's husband, calls us at eleven at night.  Wakes us up.

"We're at the hospital.  Come in the morning.  Doctor says it will be awhile."

I can hardly sleep after that.

When our alarm sounds at five, my husband, Danny, and I spring into action.

And, reach the hospital in record time.

Oh, it is so not like the old days!

We are allowed into the room with Sarah and John.  Up until the last moments before delivery.

Sarah has been given an epidural, but the pangs of labor still contort her face.  Her body writhes as each washes over her.

We hold her hands, watching the monitor which reacts with each mounting contraction.

I hold back tears.  Don't want to cry in front of my baby.  It would give her a worry she doesn't need.  But, it is so hard to see her suffer . . .

An enormous contraction!

"It's time!"  The midwife announces.

Danny and I scramble out the door, leaving John to comfort Sarah.

We wait in great anticipation.  And, miraculously, not for long.

"We have a girl!"  John shouts as he bursts through the waiting room door.

Without a moment's delay, he ushers us back to Sarah's room.

And, there she sits, propped up, holding a sweet and swaddled Virginia Rose.

A smile of sheer joy on her face.

 Are you experiencing "labor pains" in your life today?

Will you join me in prayer?
We know, Father, that this life can be fraught with pain, troubles, and sorrows.  Be with us, remain with us, through the storms we endure.  Help us to always hold Your hand, trusting that You will see us through.  Reassure us of the joy You have promised.  Amen.

Readings
Psalms 20, 21:1-7 (8-14) or 110:1-5 (6-7), 116, 117
Exodus 17:1-16
1 Peter 4:7-19
John 16:16-33 

"Very Truly, I Tell You . . ."

John 16:13
But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth.  He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is to come.

Do you consider yourself to be a truthful person?  Probably, the vast majority of you who are reading this would answer "yes".

So, would I.

At least, I strive to be truthful.  With others.  With myself.

Recently, though, I receive a beautiful story from a dear friend via e-mail.

It tells the reason why the cloth which was paced upon Jesus' face in the tomb is found neatly folded when His empty tomb is entered.  In Jesus' time, the story goes, if a master balled up his napkin and threw it on the table, that signaled his slave to clear the table.  However, if the master folded it beside his plate and left the table, it meant he had not finished eating.  He would return momentarily.

So, the tale concludes, this was Jesus' way of telling us He will return one day.

What a lovely sentiment!

But, it's not true.

And, I do not find this out until after I have forwarded this message to several friends, including my husband, Danny.

Who decides to do a little research . . .

Yep, it's a hoax.  No such tradition ever existed.

Boy, do I have egg on my face!

And, I feel badly for my friend, too, who sent this lovingly in faith and trust.

Living in the land of information-overload, it is becoming more and more difficult to discern fact from fiction.  Truth from lies.

We can become skeptical.  Jaded even.

If we let it get to us.

But, if we remember that the Holy Spirit will guide us in truth when we allow Him to take the reins, we have hope.

Hope that He will lead us in all goodness to see God's truth.

And, not be misled by what the world would have us believe.
~
Have you ever been fooled into thinking something was true when it wasn't?

Will you pray with me?
Give to us through Your Holy Spirit, Father, discerning hearts and minds.  Let us see Your truth revealed.  May we walk securely in the knowledge that You will lead us down truthful paths for Your righteousness sake.  Amen.

Readings
Psalms 16, 17 or 134, 135
Exodus 16:23-36
1 Peter 3:13-4:6
John 16:1-15  

A Friend in Need is a Friend Indeed

John 15:16
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you might go and bear fruit - fruit that will last - and so whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you.

I do not work outside the home.  Instead, I spend many hours in a day reading scripture and writing my daily devotions.  It is my joy!

But, as any writer can tell you, this can be a lonely profession.  Just you, your thoughts, and the empty page glaring at you from your computer screen.  Waiting for you to begin . . .

While I love the serenity and solitude I encounter when writing, I am far from being an introvert.  I like people.  Love to socialize.  Crave the interaction with others.

That's why, for me, Facebook is a lifesaver.

Whenever I've had enough of my own musings, I can be surrounded by the thoughts and inspiration of friends in a mouse click.

I cruise the recent feeds.  Leave comments.  Read the blogs of friends.  Leave comments.  Watch entertaining and humorous videos.  Leave comments.

Oh, what amazing and wonderful friends I have made here!

I can't imagine how lonesome I would be, day after day, sitting at home while everyone else is at work, if I did not have this outlet.

And, this makes me think.

About my dear Facebook friends.  The ones I've chosen.  The ones who have chosen me.

Some from my past.  Some from my church and community.  Some half-way across the globe.

Even some who are friends of friends of friends.

Have chosen to be my friend, too.

And, I choose back.  Affirm their requests.  Delighted to have them on board.

Because, one can never have too many friends.
~
Have you chosen Jesus to be your friend?

Will you pray with me?
We thank You, Lord, for choosing us to be Your friends.  Let us affirm that friendship by ever doing Your will and following Your commandments.  Bless and keep all our friends in Your love and grace.  Amen.

Readings
Psalms 18:1-20 or 18:21-50
Exodus 16:10-22
1 Peter 2:11-25
John 15:12-27  

Are You Headed in the Right Direction?

John 15:5
"I am the vine; you are the branches.  If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing."


When driving to a new place, I make absolutely sure I have good directions.  Ones that I review many times before getting behind the wheel.  Ones that stay on my lap for easy reference as I drive.

My awareness is heightened.  I notice every street sign and stop light.  Gas station and strip mall.  Not wishing to miss my turn.  Or, make the wrong one.

Intent.  Observant.  Open to the slightest nuance along the way.

But, when driving to a familiar place like my gym or the grocery store, my guard is down.  I'm on automatic pilot.  Cruising along obliviously.  Barely noticing anything but the road and the cars ahead of me.

Casual.  Complacent.  Closed to the signs and landmarks I pass by.

These two scenarios aptly describe how we choose to travel the road of life.

We can journey with purpose and passion.  Attentively seeking the signs and wonders all around us.

Or, we can muddle through in a dreamy fog.  Drifting aimlessly.  Missing the little miracles right under our very noses.

Which road are you on?

Are you living large?  Truly alive and aware?  Meeting challenges head-on?  Bearing much fruit?

Or, are you plodding along timidly?  Reluctantly?  Devoid of goals and dreams and desires?  Letting life happen to you instead of making it happen?

God has a plan for your life.  A road map in His hands.

He won't force it on you.  He would like you to choose it.

To choose to abide in Him that He might abide in you.

And, to live the abundant, fruitful, meaningful, passionate life that is meant exclusively for you.
~
Will you ask the Lord for directions?

Will you join me in prayer?
Unless we abide in You, Father, and You in us, we cannot live fully or abundantly.  We cannot bear good fruit for Your kingdom.  Help those of us yet to find our passion in life to earnestly seek it and allow You to guide us on our way in joy and thanksgiving for this wonderful life.  Amen.

Readings
Psalms 119:1-24 or 12, 13, 14
Exodus 15:22-16:10
1 Peter 2:1-10
John 15:1-11 

Home Is Where the Heart Is

John 14:23
Jesus replied, "Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching.  My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them."

When Danny and I marry, my daughter, Sarah, is winding up her senior year of high school.  We can't move out of our condominium into Danny's house until she successfully completes it.  I, too, have to finish out my teaching contract.

The eight-week wait feels like an eternity to me.  But, I fill the hours when I'm not working with cleaning and packing.  Lots and lots of packing!

And, lots of purging.

Because, we are combining two households, and there simply isn't room for duplicates of any sort.

What Danny and I really want to be sure of, though, is that we make a special and welcome room for Sarah.

This is a huge adjustment for her.  Mom getting married.  Moving to a new house.  Living with two younger step-brothers.  Getting ready for college.

She needs her own space.  A private place.

To feel at home.

Danny begins remodeling a downstairs room.  He moves his music studio from here into a corner in the spacious, adjacent laundry room.  Tears up the ancient and ugly blue carpeting in preparation for the new.

Knowing how much Sarah loves Starbucks, he paints the walls in tricolor earth tones which reflect the warm ambiance of that venue.  He places several items of coffee memorabilia on the walls, and adds his grandfather's antique coffee grinder to a shelf for decoration.

Next, a plush carpet whose color compliments the walls is laid down.  Add a single bed, a small, round, tiled tables, two chairs, Sarah's dresser, and heavy, brown drapes for privacy and - voila!  A room designed for a princess!

But, the question remains.  Will Sarah like what he has done?  Will she feel comfortable enough to call this place "home"?

The big day arrives.  Sarah is to see her room for the first time.  We are holding our breaths.

Danny draws back the curtains.  Sarah gasps!  Looks all around in amazement.  With sheer delight!

"Oh, thank you, Danny, it's beautiful!  I love it!"  She exclaims and gives him a generous hug.

"You're welcome, Sarah," he says with a relieved smile.  "Welcome home!"
~
Are you creating a welcoming room in your heart that Jesus can call home?

Will you join me in prayer?
We thank you today, Father, for the love of family and for calling us to be Your children.  May there always be a beautiful room in our hearts that You can call "home".  Let us ever welcome You with open arms.  Amen.

Reading
Psalms 5, 6 or 10, 11
Exodus 15:1-21
1 Peter 1:13-25
John 14:18-31  

Putting Her Eggs in One Basket

John 14:8
Philip said, "Lord, show us the Father, and it will be enough for us."


This Easter, my granddaughter, Virginia Rose, is treated to her first Easter egg hunt.

I take such delight in preparing this event for her.  I "hide" the brightly colored eggs in our living and dining rooms, careful to place them where I think she can easily spot them.

When she arrives at our house with her mom and dad, she is beaming with excitement.  We're not sure if she understands exactly what she will be doing, but it's obvious she knows something fun is in store.

I hand her the Easter basket which she takes eagerly.

Then, still smiling, she stands and looks at us, not knowing where to begin.

"Look, Virginia," her mother prompts, "there's a yellow egg on the shelf.  Go get it and put it in your basket."

Virginia looks and looks.  But, several seconds go by before she actually sees the egg.  When she does, she quickly toddles over to it, grasps it, and places it into the waiting basket.

"Good job!"  We all exclaim with a round of applause for emphasis.

"I see a blue egg, Virginia," says her dad, pointing toward it.

Again, she doesn't see at first.  She simply heads trustingly in the direction she's been shown.

Oh, how her eyes light up when she discovers it!

Plunk!  Into the basket it goes.

Now, she is catching on.  Knows what she is looking for.

And, it isn't long before her basket is full.

 

Just as Philip looked at Jesus, but didn't recognize the Father, have you ever looked at something, but didn't see it for what it truly was?

Will you pray with me?
If we want to know you, Father, we must look to Your Son, Jesus.  We need to hear His teachings and follow His commandment to love as He loves us.  Help us to see Him clearly and let Him fill us daily with Easter joy.  Amen.

Readings
Psalms 1, 2, 3 or 4, 7
Exodus 14:21-31
1 Peter 1:1-12
John 14:(1-7) 8-17 

" . . . Save Me From This Road I'm on; Jesus, Take the Wheel . . ."

John 14:5
Thomas said to Him, "Lord, we do not know where You are going, and how can we know the way?"


My husband, Danny, loves to surprise me.

One of his favorite things to do when we are preparing to celebrate a special occasion is to choose a restaurant and not tell me what or where it is.

While I love the mystery of it all, there is that little voice of worry lurking shadow-like in my mind.  How far is it?  What direction are we taking?  Did Danny get the right directions?  Does he have the phone number of the restaurant should we take a wrong turn?

It is definitely not a lack of trust in Danny's ability to get us there which causes my angst.  It is that I, myself, do not know the way we are going.

Heading into the unknown invites uncertainty.  Quickens the pulse.  Creates doubts.  Inspires imaginary scenarios.

I have no idea where we are.  What if something happens to Danny while we're out?  What if he can't drive home?  How will I be able to get us back home?

Sitting in the passenger seat, I sigh.  And, scold myself.

Quit being so silly!  So controlling!  Just sit back and enjoy the ride.

And, in the end, that's what I always do.

I still don't know where we are going.

But, Danny does.

And, that is enough for me.
~
Are you letting Jesus do the driving in your life?

Will you pray with me?
Many times, Father, we want to follow Jesus, but fail to submit our ways to His.  Help us, in all humility, to let Him take the wheel on the road of life.  May we never detour from His love along the way.  Amen.

Readings
Psalms 146, 147 or 111, 112, 113
Exodus 14:5-22
1 John 1:1-7
John 14:1-7