The Search

I reached Day 22 of the StoryADay Challenge for the month of May. Today's prompt is: "The banging on the cabin’s door is incessant. Your character throws the soufflé into the oven and rushes to open the door. No one is there, but on the floor, they see three antique brass keys and a Tarot card... Write what happens next." Because of the nature of the prompt, I gave myself some leeway today. I won't do tarot cards, so what did my character find when she opened the door? I chose three antique brass keys and an old Bible, and this is what I came up with:

The Search

Harper looked around. The cabin was rustic but immaculate. There was a fireplace just begging to be furnished with wood and flame. The braided rug in front of an overstuffed chair reminded her of the one in her grandmother's sewing room when she was a child. The kitchen was simple: a small refrigerator, an old stove, and a copper sink. The countertops were bare except for a little drainboard and a box of wooden matches. The bed just across the room was exactly like she had pictured: a simple wooden frame and a colorful handmade quilt. The owner had replaced the outhouse with indoor plumbing only a couple of seasons ago. Everything she could need for the week. And solitude. Of it all, Harper felt she needed that most.

She began settling in, stowing groceries and placing toiletries around the tiny bathroom sink. As she did, she glanced at her reflection in the mirror. She looked as tired as she felt. When had things gotten so bad? She couldn't point to one specific event; she simply felt weary and burdened by even the most common things. When had hanging out with friends become a chore? Why had her mail sat for weeks in the same spot? Silly, really, but she had lost her motivation for everything. Things she'd been turning over and over in her mind were beginning to spill out into her work, her health, and her relationships. She was getting sick of being with her. She had to find some answers. This week would be more than R&R; this week was about doing some serious soul-searching. 

Before leaving home, Harper had decided the best way to focus on the task at hand was to eliminate all unnecessary distractions. The cabin had no wifi or television, the rest was up to her. She hadn't brought with her a single book except for an empty journal and a couple of pens, and her meals would consist of anything previously prepared. For tonight's dinner, a frozen spinach and cheese souffle. She'd grab a quick shower and settle down to wait for the sound of the kitchen timer. 

A gentle knock interrupted her thoughts. "Who could be knocking on this door?" she wondered. She pulled back a curtain and attempted to look out without being detected. The front porch was concealed in darkness. The knocking continued. It was getting louder and she was becoming uneasy; Harper had told no one the location of the cabin. Just then, she heard the PING! of the timer. The oven was ready. She hastily threw the souffle in and reset the timer, all the while listening to the impatient knocking coming from the other side of the door. She took a deep breath, slid the bolt, and flung the door wide, ready to let her would-be interloper have it. No one. She eased her head out, looking carefully from side to side. No one. Her eyes narrowed. She'd been under some stress lately, hadn't been getting much sleep, but that was not her imagination. Harper eased her way out onto the porch looking once again from left to right. She was stepping back inside when she noticed something on the edge of the steps; it was a book. Kneeling down to grab it, she also noticed three small keys shining in a sliver of moonlight on the step below; they were tied with a red ribbon. She picked up the items, took one last look around, and headed inside. As she closed the door behind her, her eyes fell on the words stamped in gold across the cover of the book: HOLY BIBLE. "Really?" she thought and tossed the book on a small table next to the overstuffed chair. "I guess they forgot to hide one in a drawer somewhere."

As she sat eating her dinner, she examined the keys. All three were unique, though they were about the same size and made of brass. Her eyes naturally moved about the room, looking for anything that might require a key. She saw nothing. "Keys lock and unlock," she thought, "but why would someone drop them off that way? and so insistently?" She refused to be distracted, however; she'd come here for answers and answers she was going to get. 

Throughout the evening, she contemplated the things that had been going on in her life. She was thirty-three, had been at her job for almost eight years, felt as though she was going nowhere with that, and had a core group (read: small group) of friends. Her parents lived hours away, along with the rest of her family. She hadn't really considered marriage up until this point and, honestly, hadn't been asked. At this stage of the game, she felt like children were all but out of the question. Was school the answer? She couldn't see herself plowing her way through another thirty years until retirement. Maybe a career change. "Now?" she asked herself aloud. Her voice was met with the warm but very firm sound of silence. She tumbled the keys in her hands. "Back to this again, are we? It might just be time for bed," she said. And it was.

See you here next Saturday for the ending!

Equipped for Change by an Unchanging God

We sat at dinner last night talking about the last time we had an empty nest. Frequently, we joke that it was "for fifteen minutes" about "a million years ago." Turns out, we did the math and discovered we were empty nesters for almost a full two years, and it was less than a decade ago! Funny, it didn't feel that way. But, you know, we learned that, as great as that was, it wasn't necessarily the greatest time in our lives. Other things came along, other situations presented themselves, life got very different, but we learned that was good, too. 

In Philippians 4:11-13, Paul says, "...I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." It was because of Christ in his life, Paul was able to be content no matter his situation. That's important because life is changing all the time. How we look at things can mean the difference between victory or defeat. I don't mean the whole glass half full or half empty ideology; that's great, but it has to be so much more than telling yourself good things. There has to be someone or something better than ourselves and our own self-talk that guarantees a positive outcome. That Someone is Jesus and His providence in our lives. Romans 8:28, says, "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." All things, even those things that would normally cause discontent or bring hardship.

But, as Paul said, he needed to learn that. When Scott and I went from having children in the house full-time to being by ourselves, I recognized how good it could be, but it didn't feel good. I was a Momma and a homeschooler, and suddenly, I felt like nothing. I had to learn. I had to cry my way through, and pray my way through, and trust the goodness of the Lord every single day. And the Holy Spirit showed me. He showed me how good it could be spending mornings and afternoons with Him, walking the dogs, going wherever He took me, serving others. And then the phone rang, and things changed again. And our house became noisy and crowded, and my time was not entirely my own. And I learned. The Holy Spirit taught me how good it could be to minister to others right in our home and to be a grandmother and a mother again. I learned the things I had placed so much value on just days before were only meant for a time, and that the things of this new season were just as good, or better -- and perfectly suited for the task at hand.

Our life has changed more than once since then. We trust God's words are true, but we also trust that the Holy Spirit will continue to guide and teach us. We will learn to be content no matter the circumstances of our season. We will learn to hold things loosely, for the things we have all belong to the Giver. We will learn that the terms we apply to things: "good, bad, trouble, reward", are merely the way we as humans identify things; but God is not limited by our adjectives or our opinions. And we will learn that God will not fail us or forget us; all that He gives us is good!

Victory Today!

Victory is important, especially to Americans. We love sports and contests. Even in 2020, the forgotten year, the NFL generated twelve billion dollars! Every corner bodega in every American city sells lottery tickets. We have scholarships and awards for everything. Victory is important, and it was important to God and His people, Israel. 

When the king of Syria sought to make war with Israel, God informed His prophet, Elisha, where the enemy king had established his camp. He did this three times before the king of Syria decided he'd had enough and went looking for God's holy man. The king sent a large army accompanied by chariots and horses, to surround the city where Elisha was staying. Imagine, all of that for one prophet! The young servant who accompanied God's servant was in a panic. "What shall we do?" he asked. So Elisha answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them,” and he prayed the eyes of the young servant would be opened. When they were, the young man saw horses and chariots, more numerous and mighty than those of the Syrian army, surrounding Elisha. God's plan for victory was there all along.

I think Christians embrace the idea of some future, far-off victory for them in heaven. We readily accept ideas like mansions and rest, streets of gold and gates made of pearl, but how well do we see that we have the victory right now, here, today? When the Bible talks about victory, it is often in the context of victory over death. So, I guess, if you are still alive and reading this you have had victory over death for this very moment, right? Yes, but it's so much more. 1 John 5:4 tells us, our faith is the victory that overcomes the world. Our faith today gives us victory over this world. This is present tense stuff! We've all got bills, and sometimes those bills outnumber our paychecks, and then more bills come in. We've all got trouble, and sometimes that trouble outweighs the burdens our hearts can carry or our capacity to fix the trouble, and then more trouble comes upon us. We've all got things we have to do, and sometimes that list just doesn't seem to get any shorter no matter how hard we work, and then something else gets added. But, in Christ, we do not have to be overwhelmed. We can face these things head-on and know that God will bring us through them. We might be forced to give something up or look for another job; we might need to forgive someone or set firm boundaries; we might have to delegate some tasks or reconsider their importance, but we know, no matter what we are called to do, God is going to work it all out for His glory and our good. That is victory! 

Let me put it to you another way. If we are on our own in this world, if God's Word simply tells us to hang on tight and wait for what comes "someday," we might as well be sitting in a bomb shelter somewhere riding this thing out. If we are unable in this life, to clear any hurdles or rise above the drudgery and worry, what do we have to tell others about our Jesus? Do we tell them about the promise of "someday" from a God who can't (or won't) even give me the strength to overcome today? If our presence in heaven someday is the exclusive definition of victory, why are there any Christians on earth? 

Christians should never be sitting idly by waiting on a day of victory. We should never spend more time talking about the victory we're "sure will come," than we do walking in the victory we have. We shouldn't be so consumed by the idea of a future victory that we neglect the victory we should be experiencing today. And if you are in that place -- the place where you, as a Christian are so burdened by finances (or lack thereof), or sickness, or strife that you can't genuinely celebrate what God is doing, you can't take your eyes off your problems long enough to experience His peace and joy -- ask Him to show you that His armies are encamped about you. God's plan for victory is at work today, and through faith in Jesus Christ, we have the victory that overcomes the world.

Seek and Hide

Psalm 119:11 is one of those verses I memorized as a child. "Thy Word have I hid in mine heart that I might not sin against Thee." I memorized a lot of Scripture as a child and teen; not a bit of it kept me from sinning -- at least not that I can consciously remember. But look at this verse; there two very important aspects to consider before we can actually reap the benefit -- "that I might not sin against God."

First of all, there is the principle of hiding. Do you recall playing Hide N Seek with other children? In every group, there'd be the jokester who didn't take it seriously. He'd grow bored with the way things kept playing out, so he'd "hide" in plain sight. As the seeker was counting, the jokester would sneak up, stand right behind her, and when she would begin to search, he would stalk the seeker, walking step-for-step behind her. While it was funny watching someone challenge the way the game was played, the jokester didn't stay concealed long. He didn't take the game seriously, and it showed. Likewise, you had the uncertain ones who wouldn't commit. They remained sure-footed right where they were as the seeker began to count. They'd look one way then the next, maybe take a step or two, but never actively pursue a place to hide. Other children would gesture frantically and sometimes even whisper clues as to places to tuck away, but the child wouldn't move, time would be up, and they were instantly discovered. They hadn't the desire to do what was required to hide, and it was evident. Lastly, there was the pro. This kid would bury himself so deeply into a spot, once everyone looked for him. Eventually, with the sun setting and street lights beginning to burn, someone would call out, "Olly, Olly Oxen Free," and like Lazarus, he would come forth. The pro put in the work and was committed to the mission.

That brings us to the second consideration in the verse: God's Word hidden in my heart. I think many of us go right to the idea of memorization, and while that is vital, hiding God's Word in your heart is so much more. Empty repetition won't keep anyone from sin. In fact, Matthew 6:7 records Jesus' warning against using "vain" or empty repetitive words to pray. Vain words flow from a vain heart, a heart absent the treasure of God's character revealed through His Word. Strictly memorizing Scripture for the sake of memorizing it (for a test, to please teachers or parents, to appear pious, etc.) may have made me aware of right and wrong, and perhaps, even caused me to feel guilt or shame after I sinned; but prevent sin? No. I did not have a desire in my heart to obey; my heart was unrepentant and the words meant nothing to me. I could have just as easily been memorizing the charter of every social club in the United States -- the words were empty and my heart was hard. God's Word cannot take root in a heart of stone. Praise God, He has promised to remove our heart of stone and give us a softened heart in which His Word can take root and become effective -- effective unto strengthening us to resist temptation. He is doing that for me. It will be a lifelong process, but I need to take my portion of the process seriously -- meditate on, not simply memorize, God's Word day and night. I need to make the pursuit of God a priority, be willing to do the work that His Word might be deeply hidden in my heart, taking root and growing, that I might not sin against Him.

I Raise My Ebenezer

What do you think of when you hear the name Ebenezer? If you're like most people, you think of Ebenezer Scrooge, Charles Dickens, Christmas, and bloody old England. The name, however, comes from a Hebrew word meaning, "stone of help." The ruthless Philistines had attacked God's people, Israel. After God gave His people the victory, the prophet Samuel set up a stone of help right on the battlefield and called it Ebenezer, stone of help. 1 Samuel 7:12 tells us when he set it up, he proclaimed, “Thus far the Lord has helped us.”

Remembrance is important. Remembrance reinforces our values, reminding us where we came from. Those precepts our parents or teachers or pastors instilled in us years ago have become a part of who we are. They have shaped us into the people we are today, and to compromise those truths would be to completely lose sight of who we are. Remembrance can provide a springboard for change, helping us to avoid repeated mistakes or reminding us of places we do not want to revisit. Learn from your mistakes, right? Yes, but better to learn from the mistakes of others. Watch what people do, study history, remember it, and you will avoid pitfalls that would otherwise slow you down, hang you up, or put an end to the journey. Remembrance can be the guideposts when the way is dark and long, keeping us on track with recollections of motives or circumstances that put us on this path in the first place. If you can't remember why you're on the path, how are you going to find the motivation to stay there? If you can't remember how you got to the place you're in, how will you know to avoid or embrace those situations in the future? Remembrance can give us the courage to move on -- and this one is my personal favorite. "Thus far the Lord has helped us." He did not fail us before; He will not fail us ever.

Allow me to introduce you to my Ebenezer:

Those are journals, and that's a lot of words. Stories of God's faithfulness over and over. There are words of great sadness, deep-seated rage, daily minutiae, irrepressible joy, lament, penitence, catharsis, speculation, and page after page of Bible study. Through all of these things -- eighteen years of things -- God has been with me. Thus far the Lord has helped me.

I encourage you to raise your Ebenezer. A candle: scents can be powerful reminders of places and moments in time. A key chain: something you take with you wherever you go. A picture: one that expresses your journey in the arms of the God who carries you. A tree: a friend of mine planted a tree to remind her of the hope and protection God provided through a terrible tragedy. Whatever you can imagine that will strengthen your resolve to stay on this journey and seek the Lord while He may be found...

Raise your Ebenezer!