February 4, 2014

Vignettes of Love–Part 1: Jim and Jeanette, Post #14

For the month of February, it is on my heart each Transformational Tuesday to share different snapshots of  precious, unconditional love, like God’s love. Please let me know what you think and how you feel afterward. ..

Although they lived several states away from each other, God planned their 1984 meeting in a Washington, DC hotel lobby. She had just had lunch with President Ronald Reagan and Vice President George H.W. Bush. He was attending a Mensa (the High IQ Society) convention. The attraction was instant. Their conversation flowed easily. Their mutual deep faith dominated all other similar character traits. Without hesitation, they knew they had a love connection and would see each other again. The telephone lines between Michigan and South Carolina began to sing.

Jim and Jeanette married within the year, a blended family of six adult children. He moved to Charleston, where she lived. Jeanette served as a Charleston County magistrate; Jim owned a construction company.

We belong to the same church, so I witnessed their deep love for each other. I noticed the way they gazed at each other so deeply and adoringly. The way he still opened the car and other doors for her after all these years of marriage. The way he still pulled out her chair. The way he walked beside her on the sidewalk, closest to the street. Watching them I knew, I know, love, chivalry and romance are alive and well. They both served the church as elders and deacons and as leaders in Presbyterian Pilgrimage, a wonderful faith-renewal weekend experience.

Fourteen years ago Jeanette was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. Jim didn’t skip a beat. Jeanette retired as a judge in 2007, and Jim retired early from his construction business to take care of his beloved. I was amazed yet not surprised when I found out in 2011 that Jim and Jeanette had published a collection of her stories in Notes From A Reluctant Magistrate.

In October 2013 Jim was diagnosed with leukemia. His first thought was not about himself but about Jeanette and how she would be cared for as he took chemotherapy. His regimen was intense, staying seven straight weeks in Roper Hospital. They made the decision to have her stay in the Presbyterian Home in Summerville. With their son Tim visiting her with an IPad and Jim having his, they were able to Facetime, which was bittersweet for both. As soon as Jim would receive a clean bill of health, he would go home and prepare to pick up Jeanette from the Presbyterian Home. He would hardly take any time to build his strength back…

The story continues…today Jim is back in the hospital with one more ten-day round of chemo. He is scheduled for a bone marrow transplant from his brother in March. Jeanette is being well taken care of in the Presbyterian Home, and they talk as often as they can. Jim’s faith is strong, and he believes he will be healed. Both Jim and Jeanette’s gentle determination is an inspiration to all those around this couple. Keep praying. I believe in miracles, do you?

The Love Chapter from 1 Corinthians 13 epitomizes Jim and Jeanette’s sweet love. “[Love] always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” (1 Corinthians 13:7-8 NIV 1984).

Reflect:

–How does your marriage or relationship show unconditional love?

–What can you glean from Jim and Jeanette’s marriage? Please comment below.

–Do you believe in miracles? Name a miracle(s) in your life.

Renew:

— Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself….Each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband (Ephesians 5:21-33 NIV 1984).

Recharge:

–What will you do differently to love sacrificially in your marriage or relationship? Please comment below.

Resource:

–Buy a copy of Jeanette’s book: http://www.amazon.com/Reluctant-Magistrate-Jeanette-Mullen-Harper/dp/1463560540

–Prayerfully consider attending a Presbyterian Pilgrimage weekend.  http://www.scpresbyterianpilgrimage.org/

January 28, 2014

Refining, Shining, or Tarnishing, Post #13

As the harshest winter snow/ice storm supposedly in 25 years heads our way, it is on my heart to reflect on the warmth, the heat and process of silver refining.  I know it’s random, so please bear with me.

Each day I open my mail with a pretty silver letter opener, given to me years ago by a precious friend. It stays naturally polished, shiny from its daily usage and the oil from my hands. Then I open my cabinet and see my ornate silver pitcher, tarnished to black from its sad lack of usage.

It seems this verse from Malachi 3:3 recently keeps surfacing in my life:

 “He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver.”

What does refining and purifying silver mean? I heard a story once of a ladies Bible study that asked the same question after reading that verse and wondered how it related to the character and nature of God.  One lady in the class offered to find out the process of refining silver and would report back to the group during the next Bible Study.

The lady called a silversmith and asked if she could watch him work. She made an appointment, not letting him know the reason for her curiosity of learning about the process of refining silver.

She watched the silversmith hold a piece of silver over the fire and let it heat up. He explained to the lady that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames are the hottest as to burn away all the impurities surfacing to the top. The lady then thought about God holding us in such a hot spot.

She asked the silversmith if he had to sit with the silver the whole time it was being refined. He answered that yes, not only did he sit there holding the silver, but also he kept his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire, scraping off the impurities–the dross– that surfaced. If the silver was left a moment too long in the flames, it would be destroyed. The lady pondered his statement, then followed up with the inevitable question.

The lady asked, “How do you know when the silver is fully refined?”

The silversmith smiled at her and answered, “Oh, that’s easy–when I see My image in it.”

What a sweet picture of how God takes such care of us.

I certainly am being warmed by the refiner’s fire in my life right now, having my impurities scraped away. So let’s say we eventually become “refined” this side of heaven, which I’m still not sure we do. What happens then?

I believe we have a choice. 1) We can choose to use our God-given gifts and talents daily and try to shine; or

2) We can remain shiny for a short time, displayed for the world to see, and after lack of usage we become tarnished until we are unrecognizable.

Which are you? Which do you want to be?

As we hunker down for these winter storms, may you feel the warm glow of the refiner’s fire and may you see His reflection in your shiny self. If you feel tarnished today, be encouraged. Polish yourself off and use your gifts and talents to make a difference to someone. You shine!

Reflect:

–What do you relate to more? Refining, shining or tarnishing?  Please comment below by going to “View Comments.”

—-How are you being refined?

Renew:

–“And the words of the Lord are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace of clay, purified seven times.” –Psalm 12:6.

–“He has preserved our lives and kept our feet from slipping. For you, O God, tested us; you refined us like silver.” –Psalm 66:9, 10.

–“Remove the dross from the silver, and out comes material for the silversmith; remove the wicked from the king’s presence, and his throne will be established through righteousness.” –Proverbs 25:4, 5.

Recharge:

–In what ways this week can you “polish” yourself more? Is it writing a note of encouragement to a friend?  Inviting your elderly neighbor over to your warm home for some comfort food?  Getting more involved in your Christ-centered church? Joining a Bible study? Please comment below by going to “View Comments.”

PS.  Thank you, friends, for your support, prayers, and encouragement in reading my first leap-of-faith guest blog on December 16 for Triad Moms on Main website  called “Confessions of a Wannabe Wife and Mom.” On Dec. 31st, my friends called to pleasantly surprise me that the blog post was #8 in the Top 10 2013 Triad Moms on Main Blog Posts. Please let me know what you think if you haven’t read it yet. May it also encourage all the husbands!!!

To God be the Glory!  http://triadmomsonmain.com/my-blog/the-top-tmom-blogs-of-2013

January 21, 2014

Grace For The Perfectionist, Post #12

What do you think is the difference between perfection, striving for excellence, and doing your best? If you’re like me, that question sure makes you scratch your head.

When I was a little girl, I organized all my crayons by the rainbow-color acronym name—remember it? R-O-Y- G-  B-I-V (Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet).  I kept them organized, even if it was a box of 64 crayons. I also colored inside the lines. I was a born perfectionist.

Bless my sweet parents. I was harder on myself than they ever were on me.

All these years later, I still struggle with perfectionism in some areas of my life.  But who holds the measuring stick to decide what “perfect” is? Your “perfect” is different from my “perfect.” The only true measuring stick for perfection is Jesus, and nowhere this side of heaven will I, will we reach the beautiful perfection of Jesus.

I remember one role model in my career taught me this pithy poem:

Good, better, best, And may we never rest,

Until our good is better, And our better, best.

That’s when it hit me: my best is not perfection. And that’s OK.

When I get up in each morning, every fiber of my being strives for excellence.

Then life happens…

traffic is at a standstill, and I’m late for work;

a long-anticipated meeting is rescheduled at the last minute;

miscommunication occurs with a loved one;

reality falls short of expectations.

Where is my heart in all of this?  Then I read: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.” –Colossians 3:23 (NIV 1984).  What a relief! Just put your heart and passion into all we do. May we not  not be half-hearted.

One of my favorite verses is five words: “She did what she could…” Mark 14:8a  (NIV, 1984).  Don’t you love it? Maybe I should have that on my epitaph!  What grace! It sure makes me exhale.

To set up the scene, Jesus was visiting the home of Simon the Leper. Mary, sister of Martha and Lazarus, brought in an expensive alabaster jar full of pure nard, which is costly perfume. She took it, broke it, and poured it all on Jesus. Some of Jesus’ disciples ridiculed her for wasting more than a year’s wages of perfume on Jesus instead of giving it to the poor. Jesus told them to leave her alone and said it was a beautiful thing that she did. He told them He would not always be around and this poured perfume was preparing him for his burial. Jesus was trying to tell them he would soon die.

Mary did what she could. It may not have been “perfect” or even “excellent” in the sight of the disciples. She gave it her all.

Dear friends, do you struggle with not getting everything done on your checklist? Keep doing your best, and react with grace knowing obstacles will come into your divine path. Be encouraged. You are making a difference.  Relax. Breathe deeply. Hold it. Exhale. Smile. His grace is sufficient for you and for me. Feel free to color outside the lines sometimes.

Reflect:

–What are some ways you are a recovering perfectionist like me? Please comment.

–-What grace can you give yourself or a loved one who struggles with perfectionism?

–How can you make sure your heart is in all your work? Please leave a comment and let me know.

Renew:

–“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” –2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV 1984)

–“Finally, brothers, good-by. Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.” –2 Corinthians 13:11 (NIV 1984).

–“Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.” –Galatians 1:10 (NIV 1984)

PS. Today is also a great day to print out my “Creating Your Personal Mission Statement Template,” which is free by simply adding your email address and subscribing to this little leap-of-faith “Pure Inspiration” blog. 

My personal mission statement is “Shine,” based on Matthew 5:16.

« Previous Page
Next Page »