SEEING THE EXTRAORDINARY

Month: August 2020

  • The Invitation – Devotion 115

    Every morning, God sends us an invitation.  It is a personal invitation, although we might miss it – or that it is for us.  It is routine, so we often overlook.  It doesn’t come in the mail and it isn’t shipped in a box.  It is the most significant invitation we will ever receive.  It is more grand and magnificent than anything paper could hold or print could contain.  Our invitation is a sunrise.

    Each day has a fresh start with a sunrise.  I think of it as God putting his most beautiful painting on display to invite us to this new day.  He is clothing the earth with sun and color and light so that we can move forward in our day.  He is giving us an invite to begin again.  Yesterday is complete.  Tomorrow is not yet to come.  We are given this sunrise, this day, this new beginning.

    Life doesn’t always go as we would want it.  It doesn’t always turn out great.  We struggle and suffer and can find we are beat down.  But there is always a fresh start, a new day, a new beginning.  We are not slaves to our past.  We have a future waiting ahead.  God gives us an invitation to this future.  What will we do with it?

    In the focus scripture for today, we are reminded how we are God’s beloved.  We are his children, loved and adored by him.  He clothes the earth with sunrises and beautiful landscapes.  We are to clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, meekness and patience.  Just like the world needs each new start, each beautiful sunrise – the world also needs compassion, kindness, meekness and patience.  As God’s beloved, we have the opportunity to shine for him by putting these on – wearing them with his love.  What are we putting on today?  God’s canvas is painted – don’t miss it.  It is a chance to make a difference.

    Focus Scripture:

    12 As God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.

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  • The Shade – Devotion 114

    When it is really hot outside, a path with a covered canopy of trees is a welcome sight.  It is a reprieve from the sun beating down and could even cause a bit of breeze to blow.  A little break from the continual exposure really does make a difference.  I found this out in an even more concrete way a couple of weeks ago.

    I opted to go running with a friend in the heat of the day.  It is usually not a good idea, but it was the run that we could both fit into the busy schedules we were juggling.  It seemed to work.  The only problem was the heat.  There wasn’t much breeze and the sun was beating down.  I ran on a familiar path and we were approaching a small hill.  I promised my friend that if we simply made it over the hill, there would be shade waiting.  The trees were on both sides and it would provide us with a break from the constant beating we were taking from the sun.  We were both in much anticipation of the shade that was sure to come.  Except, it didn’t.  We made it to the top of the hill, but there was no shade.  There were trees as I had promised, but the sun was positioned just right to shine right down the middle of the path – where we were running, of course.  My friend looked at me as if I had lost my mind.

    What I had not taken into account was I usually ran at a much different time.  The sun was never bearing straight down.  So this path was shaded and perfect.  That was not the case at the time we had chosen to run.  I had forgotten we were not running at my usual time.  There was no shade in sight.

    What do we do at that point?  We were disappointed, to say the least.  My friend will never let me live this down.  But we didn’t stop and decide that we weren’t going any further simply because things didn’t turn out as we wanted.  We kept moving.  We kept going, one footstep at a time.  We made it to our goal without the shade.  We didn’t give up just because we didn’t get the break we so desperately wanted.

    How many times do we just want to give up because things don’t go as we anticipate?  When our plans are not laid out as we were sure they would be, what do we do?  We face so many disappointments in life that we could be weighed down with them.  Or we could continue to move forward, one step at a time, until we reach our goal.  Today, I’ll continue to move forward…there will be shade on the next route, I am sure.  The break will come eventually.  It will be okay.

    Focus Scripture:

    Psalm 121

    1 I lift up my eyes to the hills—
    from where will my help come?
    2 My help comes from the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth.

    3 He will not let your foot be moved;
    he who keeps you will not slumber.
    4 He who keeps Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.

    5 The Lord is your keeper;
    the Lord is your shade at your right hand.
    6 The sun shall not strike you by day,
    nor the moon by night.

    7 The Lord will keep you from all evil;
    he will keep your life.
    8 The Lord will keep
    your going out and your coming in
    from this time on and forevermore.

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  • Kindess Filter – Devotion 113

    Sometimes I wish there was such a thing as a kindness filter.  You know…a filter you could turn on which would cut out all the other stuff.  It would filter out the hatred and meanness, the backbiting and stone throwing.  It would be great to have not only on TV and on social media, but also in person.  Think about how difficult it is to scroll through your social media account and find anything kind or loving.  It is a real challenge.  I spend more time shaking my head and rolling my eyes than anything.  To find anything kind means I have to go through the other mess too.  And in person – the kindness filter would just stop the hateful conversations.  We could find ourselves exiting from those who have no interest in a real conversation but only talk so they feel better about their own views rather than hearing others.  All of that would be cut out with the kindness filter.

    Ok – I know this is a bit farfetched.  I get it.  I know it is not actually going to happen like that.  But it doesn’t mean I can’t dream.  And it also doesn’t mean I can’t do my part.  Instead of looking for others to be kind, I can be kind.  Instead of trying to find real conversations, I can initiate real conversations.  Rather than scrolling through the heap of hatred, I can be the one that shares the love of Christ.

    How about you?  Will you be a kindness filter for others?  Will you offer words of hope and love?  Will you shine bright with God’s light in a world that is so filled with conflict and hatred?  May we be the kindness others are seeking today – and may it begin with me.

    Focus Scripture:

    Galatians 5:22-23

    22 By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things.

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  • Distracted – Devotion 112

    I have been trying to write and I keep getting distracted.  It is not unusual for me to encounter distractions.  Usually I close the door, move to another room, turn on a sound machine or simply tune out what is going on.  My mind goes 100 miles an hour all the time, so I have learned how to deal with that distraction.  But today…today there is a distraction I can’t seem to shake, tune out or ignore.  I tried several different strategies but this particular distraction isn’t budging.  So I stopped to simply be.

    Today’s distraction is Leo.  It is normal for Leo to want to be near me when I am working.  If I am on my phone, I know he will come by and nudge my arm at least once to get my attention.  He sits by me when I am typing.  All of this is usual and expected.  Today, though, he decides he will be climbing up in my lap.  That sounds fine unless you know Leo is over 50 lbs and I am sitting at the kitchen table in a small chair.  But don’t think that deters him, because it doesn’t.  He manages to wedge himself into the chair and is determined not to move.  So I have the bright idea that I will move to the couch.  That way, we can sit together and I can still work.  Sounds great, doesn’t it?  It wasn’t exactly what Leo had in mind.  I sat down and he sat right in my lap – no working on the laptop for me.  So I finally gave up and just sat with him.  He wanted my attention and he got it.

    I wonder how many joys I miss because I am so focused on what I am doing.  I wonder what I miss when my attention is to accomplish and achieve.  Leo teaches me that sometimes we must stop and just be.  He reminds me that it can be good to be distracted and to just relax.  I am reminded that God is at work and sometimes I see that best when I simply stop and listen.  May you find good distractions today.

    Focus Scripture:

    Psalm 131

    1 O Lord, my heart is not lifted up,
    my eyes are not raised too high;
    I do not occupy myself with things
    too great and too marvelous for me.
    2 But I have calmed and quieted my soul,
    like a weaned child with its mother;
    my soul is like the weaned child that is with me.[a]

    3 O Israel, hope in the Lord
    from this time on and forevermore.

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    Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery.  Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery

  • Not Always Easy – Devotion 111

    We remember well picking up Leo.  We knew Emma was getting older and we thought a new addition may perk her up.  When we were looking for energy, we got that and then some.  As cute and adorable as Leo was, he was a handful.  Emma was so easy to train.  She really gave us very little problems.  She was overall a whole tall lanky body of fun.  She was opinionated and we had gotten accustomed to her moods.  But then there was Leo.  I cannot tell you how many times I said…what were we thinking?!  He was a challenge from day 1.  We all wondered what we had gotten ourselves into?

    Leo wasn’t easy to love in the beginning.  He just wasn’t.  His cute face was just not quite enough.  He worked my nerves daily.  Some days, he still does.  But wow have things changed.  He has made his way as a central member of the family.  He is fun and energetic.  He is sweet and loving.  He has his own cool ways of communicating.  When Emma died, we wondered how he would adjust to being alone.  He took it in stride – and by that I mean he has become the apple of everyone’s eye.  He knows how to trick us all into giving him treats and doing pretty much anything he wants.  I can’t imagine life without him now.  But he hasn’t always been easy to love.

    Let’s be honest – we aren’t always that easy to love either.  We can be whiny and picky.  We can be demanding and snappy.  We often want things our way.  And we want it when we want it in the time frame we want it.  What really blows my mind is that even when I am not easy to love, God loves me.  Even when I am grumpy or having a bad day or just not feeling well, God doesn’t stop loving me.  He doesn’t stop loving me when I am difficult or a challenge to live with.  His love is not conditional on how I look or act or feel.  His love is unconditional.  He loves me because that is just who he is.  And I am so grateful.  And he loves you that much too!

    May you feel loved today.  May you become wrapped in his unconditional love that carries us throughout our lives.  May you know God is with you.

    Focus Scripture:

    Psalm 136:1-3

    1 O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
    for his steadfast love endures forever.
    2 O give thanks to the God of gods,
    for his steadfast love endures forever.
    3 O give thanks to the Lord of lords,
    for his steadfast love endures forever;

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  • Something Different – Devotion 110

    I looked down at my meal recently and found myself laughing.  It wasn’t a full on laugh – Wendy made the meal and I didn’t want her to think I was laughing at her food she had prepared.  That would have been difficult to explain.  And she is a wonderful cook – seriously.  But internally I was really laughing.  I looked down at the dish in disbelief.  To understand, you had to know me as a kid.

    Growing up, I had 4 main foods to sustain me:  Mac and cheese (always a winner no matter what), egg sandwich (a staple no matter the meal), orange juice (I know it sounds weird, it just was), and chocolate (well, duh).  I could and practically did live off of these – much to my mother’s dismay.  She couldn’t even get the doctor to tell me different, and she tried.  Most meats were out (shoe leather pork chops were a winner) and most vegetables were avoided (can’t remember any I really particularly liked).  Now again, you have to know my mother tried.  She did what every good mother does.  She made me try things I did not want to eat.  I tried them more than I wanted to – I just wanted the mac and cheese please.  And, since I am writing this, I survived.  I know it is shocking.

    As I stared down at the plate, this is what was before me – a dish of rice topped with baked carrots and peas with a vegan sauce on top.  There is no way I would have touched this as a kid.  And here I was, enjoying it.  It was good.  It was healthy.  These days, I am a vegan – so vegetables and fruits are a part of every meal.  I haven’t eaten meat in more than 10 years.  So much has changed.  I giggled because I was eating a healthy meal, I had run that morning, and was actually feeling good.  What a concept.

    We never know what the future holds for us.  We never know what is ahead.  Sometimes we can sit back and just laugh at how things have worked out.  We can smile at the changes.  That isn’t always the case – I understand.  Just a challenge to find a little joy in how things have changed for the better for you.  Or maybe you see a future that looks much healthier and better.  Smile a little smile and keep moving.  Change is coming.  Change is here.

    Focus Scripture:

    Genesis 1:29-30

    29 God said, “See, I have given you every plant yielding seed that is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree with seed in its fruit; you shall have them for food. 30 And to every beast of the earth, and to every bird of the air, and to everything that creeps on the earth, everything that has the breath of life, I have given every green plant for food.” And it was so.

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    Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery.  Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery

  • God is with us

    Right now, for many, these are lonely times.  There is lack of physical interaction.  It is for a really good reason, but we were made for community.  So it makes it extra difficult to find our way when our view of community has changed so drastically and at such a rapid pace.  What most of us imagined as a few weeks of change has become a version of new normality.  Lunch with friends is not so easy to plan.  Vacations are revamped, if happening at all.  It can feel like we have been swallowed up in the chaos of it all.  Air hugs and distance fist bumps just aren’t the same.  But it is where we are.  So what do we do when times feel so lonely and everyone feels so distant?  What happens when we look around and see despair?

    Elijah found himself in a really challenging place in his life.  Our struggles do not compare to his, except to say that God’s Word for him can really ring true to us in our situation.  I think the life that God speaks to Elijah also bring us life if we listen…if we truly hear.

    To give you a brief background, Elijah was a mighty prophet for God.  He was willing to do what God had told him.  He had stood before 450 prophets of Baal, confident in the work that God could do.  God had shown up, in a miraculous way.  He had been strong, he had been faithful, he had conquered his fears and God had honored that.  Baal had been defeated and the prophets had been destroyed.  God was triumphant…and that was the side that Elijah was on – it is always helpful to be on the winning side.  That would mean he would be willing to go up against anyone or anything…why not?  God had shown up once, surely God would show up again.  But Elijah found himself in a place of despair…fearfulness…loneliness…helplessness.  Elijah felt abandoned even despite all that had just happened.  And it wasn’t because Elijah lacked faith.  It wasn’t because Elijah was a wimp or he wasn’t being used by God.  Elijah found himself here even with his strong faith.  Sometimes we find ourselves here and it isn’t our faith that is lacking either.

    1 Kings 19:9-18
    19:9 At that place he came to a cave, and spent the night there. Then the word of the LORD came to him, saying, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
    19:10 He answered, “I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away.”
    19:11 He said, “Go out and stand on the mountain before the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.” Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake;
    19:12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence.
    19:13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then there came a voice to him that said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
    19:14 He answered, “I have been very zealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the Israelites have forsaken your covenant, thrown down your altars, and killed your prophets with the sword. I alone am left, and they are seeking my life, to take it away.”
    19:15 Then the LORD said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus; when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael as king over Aram.
    19:16 Also you shall anoint Jehu son of Nimshi as king over Israel; and you shall anoint Elisha son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah as prophet in your place.
    19:17 Whoever escapes from the sword of Hazael, Jehu shall kill; and whoever escapes from the sword of Jehu, Elisha shall kill.
    19:18 Yet I will leave seven thousand in Israel, all the knees that have not bowed to Baal, and every mouth that has not kissed him.”

    What are you doing here, Elijah?  Remember, God doesn’t ask questions because he doesn’t know.  It isn’t as if God has no clue what Elijah is doing.  He knows.  But he needs to hear why Elijah thinks he is there.  What does Elijah think of his situation?   How is he processing what is going on around him?  And Elijah repeats his perspective, twice.  This was how he felt.  This is where he was.  This was his view of his life and he was being destroyed by it.  We hear his plea, his cry, his heartfelt fear. This was where he was.

    Elijah felt alone.  He felt as though all was against him and he was left alone.  God provided him with an encounter.  He provided him with answers in the silence.  He showed him majestic wonders.  He moved him, literally with the elements.  He spoke to him as he sat.  He spoke to his situation, right where he was.

    We might think that this would do it for Elijah.  We might think this would be the renewal he needed, the boost to continue to move forward.  We might would imagine this would lift his spirits so he would be ready to face anything ahead.  But it wasn’t.  Even after his encounter with God, he still felt all alone.  That did not change him like you might would think it would.  God does not give up on him, though.  He does not leave him alone in his despair.  This speaks to God’s compassion for Elijah.  He doesn’t berate him for not being comforted.  He doesn’t tell him he is on his own now.  He doesn’t scold him or tell him to stop his complaining.  God doesn’t give up on him and I love this.

    He, instead, lets him know that there is support, there are others, God has not abandoned him nor the others.  His mission is not complete.  There are others that are in the same situation.  There is a community.  This is not the end for Elijah or the Israelites.  I hear God tell Elijah to pick up your head and see your tribe.  Lift your eyes to the hills, that is where your help comes from.  Lift up your heart, for God has provided all you need.  This is not the end, you are not alone.

    It is not easy to hear you are not alone when you feel so alone.  Even when circumstances tell you differently…even when God tells you differently.  It can be challenging when you feel pressed to continue going.  So many times, we can find ourselves just wanting to hide out.  We feel alone.  This scripture reminds us that God is not only with us, he provides those along the journey to accompany us.  We may not realize it.  We may not easily see them.  But God provides others.

    I believe that God reminds us that he is with us.  What does it mean to have God with you?  It means that no matter what you face in life, he does not abandon you.  It means that when you feel like you can’t go on, he helps to nurture you and bring you along.  It means that when you can’t take another step, he provides rest and renewal so you can continue the journey.

    I also believe that God tells us to lift up our heads, there are sights we have missed.  Lift up our eyes to the hills, God’s help is here.  Lift up our hearts, we have others with us on this journey.  You are not alone because there are others that travel this journey too.  You have a tribe.  You have people that love and support you on this difficult road.  You do not face this alone.  Look up, my friends, your tribe awaits.  Your tribe can consist of family and friends…people you haven’t even had a chance to meet yet.  It can be your church and your community.  Your tribe also consists of professionals that help you along the way.  Sometimes when we feel all alone, we need help that mental health can offer.  There is no shame in that – only grace.  God has given women and men gifts to help guide and direct us to a better mental place.  It often is that prayer and faith lead us to these gifted people that can help us with therapy and medication.  And there is nothing wrong with that…actually there is so much right with it.

    Today, church, know that you are not alone.  Whether you are hearing this on your phone, your computer, or in person…you are not alone.  Whether you are hearing this alone or with someone else, you are not alone.  God is with us.  God will not leave us.  We are not abandoned.  Lift up your heads, church.  Lift us your eyes, friends.  Lift up your hearts – for God has provided what you need.  May God be with us all as we seek him and find those with us on this journey.

    Amen.

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  • Grace – Devotion 109

    I mess up quite a bit.  There is nothing perfect about me.  I am okay with that.  I have no ideas that I will be perfect at any point.  It doesn’t mean I don’t stop trying to improve and grow.  I am always looking for ways to become better, kinder, and show more love.  I am always striving to find out what God means when he asks us to love him and love our neighbor.  This can be challenging even in the easiest of times.  So I am reminded that as I struggle, his grace is even more important.  His grace reminds me that I am not on a merit system and I do not have to earn his love.  That is freeing and refreshing.  I don’t have to do enough good things to make God love me.

    God loves me and God loves you because he made us. He created us and gave us life and breath.  We are given so many opportunities to show love to others that can only come from being loved so very much.  Grace is one of those things that is not always easy to hear or to take in.  We don’t always feel worthy (or maybe we never do).  We always want to dredge up the past or wear it like a backpack everywhere we go.  We want to point out the million things we have done wrong.  Isn’t it amazing that we can remember all those things that we did so wrong but struggle to remember all the good we have done?  But God has taken care of all of it.  He doesn’t worry about our past, he looks forward to our future.  He has given us a hope for so much more.  And it all begins with grace.

    Today, I pray that you embrace the grace that you have been given.  You are given God’s grace because he loves you so very much.  You are given his grace, not because you earned it or deserve it – you are worthy simply because you are his.  May God’s grace wrap you tight and lead you into the future that has so much to look forward to.  May God remind you that you are loved more than you could ever imagine.  God’s grace really is amazing.

    Focus Scripture:

    Ephesians 2:8-9

    8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God— 9 not the result of works, so that no one may boast.

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    Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery.  Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery

  • Taking Time – Devotion 108

    Too often it seems that I am in a rush to get somewhere.  Usually it is because I have booked too much too close together trying to fit it all in.  It is also a reason why I am almost never early and feel good when I am right on time.  Some people rush wherever they go.  It is a non-stop race so everything is full force.  They drive like it too.

    As a runner, I get to experience people’s morning commute from a completely different perspective.  There are those who are in such a rush that they are checking their phones and driving as if it is the last mission.  For those, I get off the road completely – they are crazy (you know who you are).  Then there are those who seem as though they haven’t yet ingested their morning coffee.  They are not quite awake and from our encounter, are not as friendly yet either.  They aren’t going to slow down or move over.  It is full on.  I also get off the road for them (they aren’t happy at all).  There are those who are in a rush but have had their coffee and seem a bit more pleasant.  These are the people who will move over and give me plenty of room, but are running full speed.  The breeze is nice but makes me a bit nervous (still, thank you for the room to run).  And then there are those who take their time.  I’m not saying they aren’t in just as much of a rush.  I’m not saying they don’t have as much going on.  But these people decided to take a few extra moments for my safety.  I experienced a few of those on my run yesterday morning.  Two, in particular, slowed way down and waited for oncoming traffic to pass.  They were thoughtful and courteous.  And they made my day.  They took the time to make sure I was safe.  They made an extra effort to spend a moment to wait for me.  They made time.

    How often do we feel like we don’t have a few extra moments to be kind because we are in a rush?  How many times are we so busy that we don’t even see the small ways we can make someone else’s day?  What might it take to simply put down the phone, pay attention to all that is around, and just take our time?  We might find there are good things going on around us.  We might see that the couple of extra moments didn’t make us any more late and we were able to change a situation.  It might be that we are able to help someone we would have missed in the hustle of the day.  Maybe today, we just take our time.  God may be working in that space and we don’t want to miss him.

    Focus Scripture:

    Philippians 2:13

    13 for it is God who is at work in you, enabling you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

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  • The Writing – Devotion 107

    My handwriting can be challenging to read – at least that is what I am told.  Most everyone who has to read what I write has something to say.  When I was working on my undergraduate degree (many years ago), I had a professor that wanted everything handwritten.  So I wrote a paper as she asked.  I worked hard to make sure it was neat.  She had a meeting with me.  According to her, my handwriting was neat but it looked as if it was in a different language.  To figure out what it said was too much.  She would be making an exception for me – I was to type everything.  That may have been a sign.

    Over the years, I have typed most everything.  I can type way faster than I can write by hand.  When I write a note to someone, either my co-workers or Wendy will ask me if it was legible (as if I wasn’t trying to make it legible).  The interesting thing to me is that, for the most part, my handwriting is completely fine.  As long as I am not in a rush, it looks clean and neat in my eyes.  I don’t see a problem with it.  And I have a hard time understanding why others think it is so bad.  But it is, after all, my own handwriting.  I only question myself when I can’t even read it.

    What does this have to do with anything?  I see God’s creation as his own personal handwriting.  He signed his name to the goodness of this earth with majesty.  He continues to write new stories and produce new works that are beyond our imagination.  We don’t always understand because it isn’t our handwriting.  It can be difficult to translate because it may be unfamiliar to us.  I like to think of creation as a love letter from God that we don’t always understand because we don’t understand the writing.  We see familiar while the story is really extraordinary.  We see a jumbled mess when God sees a beautifully constructed poem.  We just don’t know how to read the story.

    Maybe we take a step back today and listen to the story that God is telling with his creation.  What is he helping us to understand?  What is he reminding us of today?  How is he filling our lives with a love story that we might be missing?  Maybe it is time to start reading his handwriting.

    Focus Scripture:

    Psalm 19:1-4

    The heavens are telling the glory of God;
    and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
    2 Day to day pours forth speech,
    and night to night declares knowledge.
    3 There is no speech, nor are there words;
    their voice is not heard;
    4 yet their voice goes out through all the earth,
    and their words to the end of the world.

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    Photos included in Devotions are captured by David Cain – The Cain Gallery.  Photos are available for sale by contacting The Cain Gallery