KEY SA#12: ALONE NO MORE

Merry Christmas!  I pray that you had a blessed day remembering  and celebrating God's amazing gift of His precious Son, sent to this world as a newborn Baby!

Babies and puppies have been a huge part of my world this past month.  Well, actually one baby and one puppy.  :)  Our first precious grand-daughter, Baby B, was born in November.  And in December we got a new puppy!   So I have been cuddling and studying newborns recently.

A couple of weeks ago, I was privileged to babysit Baby B for the first time all by myself.  I held her for three hours straight.  What a joy!  My daughter, the baby's mommy, greeted me at the door with the sleeping infant and asked with a smile if I would rather she put Baby B in her crib or if I wanted to hold her instead.  What kind of a question is that to ask an eager grandmother?  Of course, my daughter knew the answer, and lovingly placed the sleeping child in my arms.

I was informed on the location of the bottle and a time frame in which to expect the family to return from celebrating Big C's birthday with his friends.  Little c ran to plant a kiss on Baby B's forehead and they all left.  Of course, before they even pulled out of the driveway, the sleeping child awoke and expressed her puzzlement at the new situation in extremely vocal terms.  But Grandma walked, cuddled, patted and chatted with her for a while.  I noticed that hearing my voice seemed to cheer her the most.  So we had a little talk about the wonderful family God had given to her.  I told her of the awesome God who uniquely designed her, loved her more than anyone else ever could and had a wonderful plan for her future.  I told her how much I loved her.   She was comforted by my words and slept again peacefully.

Several weeks later, when we got our adorable but extremely lively and vocal new puppy, Sonja, whose older "sister," Krissa, has yet to be overly delighted about the new dynamics of our household, I was concerned that none of us would get any sleep that first night.  My experience in the past with new puppies had set a clear precedent.  But my husband had a great idea!  He put Sonja in her little kennel and placed the front of her kennel right up to the front of Krissa's big kennel.  They were sort of "nose to nose" . . . you get the picture?  Well, the little darling quieted down as soon as the lights were turned off and slept contentedly . . . and quietly . . . all through the night!

So what have I discovered over my musings of these two events?  Even a brand new baby . . . even a newborn puppy . . . needs to know that they are not alone.  God instilled in each one of His creations the need for companionship . . . for relationship.  In the words of the old familiar song, no one is "an island."  I believe that one of the greatest fears we have as humans is that of being abandoned.  Babies need to be touched and talked to; adults need to be heard and understood.  The deepest need of the human heart is resolved by Christmas.  Last week, I talked about the need for us to be forgiven of sin, to be transferred out of the Kingdom of Darkness to God's Kingdom of Light.

One phrase of the Christmas carol,  "O Little Town of Bethlehem," speaks especially to this concept:  "The hopes and fears of all the years are met in Thee tonight.'"  The result of living in the Kingdom of Light is that we are never alone.  Once we become a child of God, we will never be alone again.  Ever!  God promised in Matthew 28:20b,  "I am with you always, even to the end of the age."   Family members may leave us by rejection or death; friends may move away or let us down; but our heavenly Father will never leave nor forsake us!

If you are His beloved child, celebrate your personal relationship with Him today!  And if you do not yet belong to God, I invite you to open the best Christmas present ever . . . the one God extents to you this very day . . . by asking Jesus to forgive you for your sins and become the Lord and King of your life!

This is the last blog on blogger.com.  In 2013, I will exclusively write my blog on my new word press site at www.lindaruthstai.com!  If you haven't already done so, please go there, click on "blog," and sign up to receive future blogs directly to your email.  Since we'll be journeying through the Bible the whole year, you may not want to miss any of them!  

I invite you to read through the Bible with me in the new year and would love to hear from you if this is already an established habit of yours.  If not, there are many plans available to help guide you through it.  My personal favorite plan is to read from my chronological Bible which has the days' readings already organized in an easy to read method.  

See you next year !  :)

copyright 2012 Linda Ruth Stai, author and inspirational speaker

KEY SA#11: THE REAL HEART OF CHRISTMAS

As I write this it is only six days until Christmas.  Actually, it is only three days until we celebrate our family party with our kids and grandkids!  And I am very excited about it; we don't have all our children together very often and I look forward to this special time set aside to celebrate Jesus' birth as a family.  I've heard that whatever Christmas Day brings, the only important thing is to honor Jesus.  And that is true, but as far as I am concerned, every day is a special day to honor Jesus, and Christmas is a time to celebrate Him with loved ones.  Either with family, or our Christian brothers and sisters or to reach out to those who still need to become part of His kingdom!

Speaking of kingdoms, this week has brought a tragedy that is affecting our whole country.  The Connecticut massacre of elementary school children has been first and foremost in the headlines, as it should be.  Many of us have agonized and cried with the tormented families of the victims, over the evil present in our culture that is beyond comprehension.

I wish I could take this time to answer the desperate questions we have asked ourselves, each other and God.  Like:  "Why does God allow such evil?"  "How could anyone hurt innocent children?"  "What can we do to prevent another similar disaster?"

But I don't have the answers; the only thing I can do is point you to the One who does.  In my Bible study, The View From Eternity, which is a companion to my novel, The Rose Journal, one lesson focuses on two spiritual kingdoms.  I quote from the study:  "The Bible makes it clear that two kingdoms co-exist in this world; the Kingdom of Darkness and the Kingdom of Light.  Each person is traveling toward eternity in one of these kingdoms."

Obviously, the horror of the killing this week is an example of what can happen when an individual journeys in the Kingdom of Darkness and is influenced by evil.  But we cannot blame God for one man's actions.  Way back at the beginning of time, Adam and Even made the choice to disobey God and the consequence of that choice was to allow sin to enter the perfect world that God originally intended for His children.  But God didn't leave us to wallow in our sin and be destroyed by it.  He gave each individual another choice.  Because of God's tremendous love .  . . which also is beyond our comprehension . . .  He was willing to give His only Son, Jesus Christ, to be born into this world of hurt and suffering, for the purpose of paying for the sin of all humanity once and for all on the cross.  Because of God's great sacrifice, you and I can confess our sin and accept Jesus' payment for those sins in our place.  If we do that, God will immediately transfer us from the Kingdom of Darkness into His beautiful and eternal Kingdom of Light!

As children of His Kingdom of Light, we have a future out of this world!   Jesus says in John 16:33, "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you will have tribulation, but take courage;  I have overcome the world."  Our eternal future will have no more tears, suffering or death.  God's promise in Revelation 21:4 says, "and He shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there shall no longer be any death; there shall no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away."

As we prepare for this Christmas season, let's us remember that God did do something about evil.  That is what Christmas is all about! It's not about decorated trees, gifts, stockings, food; although our family enjoys all of that as a part of the celebration.  But the heart of Christmas goes far deeper, to touch the heart of each person, and to reveal and renew what is in our hearts.  This holiday is not merely a time for fun and frivolity, but it is a time to remember how God changed the world with His precious gift of a Baby.  It is up to each one of to choose which Kingdom we will live in.  Satan is temporarily the prince of this world, so if we fail to choose, we exist as a part of the Dark Kingdom by default.  Are you ready, if you haven't done so yet, to surrender to His ways for your life .  . .  to hold His hand and trust His love?

I firmly believe that God cries with us when we cry . . . that He feels our pain.  And He is always present, ready to offer the Hope that only He can give.

copyright 2012 Linda Ruth Stai, author and inspirational speaker

KEY SA#10: COVENANTS AND PROMISES

It appears that I have taken many detours on my way through the Road in the Land of Abundant Living this past month!  Not going where I had originally intended, I found that God's plan was better than mine.  A fact which is always true.  So today, with Christmas approaching closer and constant on my mind as I prepare for it, I want to share thoughts about covenants and promises.  If you missed the last two blogs where I shared about the rainbow God gave us on the beach in Mexico, you may want to refer to the blog archives.

I've been thinking about covenants lately.  God instituted His first covenant, I believe, with Noah and His family after the flood had destroyed the entire population of the earth except for them.  They found refuge on the Ark because of Noah's faith in God's provision and his obedience to God's command to build the ark.

This first covenant was God's promise that He would never again "curse the ground on account of man . . . and will never again destroy every living thing," (Genesis 8:21) "while the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease."  (Genesis 8:22)  The sign of His promise was the first rainbow which God displayed in the sky after the flood.  Up to that time, rain had not yet appeared to water the earth.  Instead the ground was watered by rivers and mists.  (see Genesis 2:6 and 10)  Can you imagine, since the first rain sent by God caused a flood that covered the whole earth, how fearful people may have been each time it began to rain afterwards?  A few raindrops falling from the sky might have turned many hearts to terror!  But God does not want His children to fear.  So He gave His promise that whenever we see a rainbow, we are reminded that a flood will never again destroy the entire earth.

God always keeps His promises.  And one of his greatest promises is the one He made to Adam and Eve in the garden after they had disobeyed and fallen into sin.  God told them that one day He would send a Savior in Genesis 3:15 when he spoke this curse to Satan:  "and I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her seed (my explanation:  her seed refers to Jesus Christ); He shall bruise you on the head, and you shall bruise him on the heel. (my explanation: referring to Satan's later attempted to destroy Jesus on the cross)."

This month, we celebrate the culmination of that promise with the birth . . . the gift . . . of God's only Son, sent to this world as the life of God, Himself, in the form of a human baby.  And 33 years later, Jesus spoke of the fulfillment of God's covenant with Abraham by His words, "This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood."  Luke 22:20   Through Jesus' blood, we are given an opportunity to share in His new covenant, referred to in 2 Corinthians 3:6, "(God) who made us adequate as servants of a new covenant, not of the letter, but of the Spirit . . . "   And it is brought together by the writer of Hebrews in 8:6, "But He has obtained a more excellent ministry, by as much as He (Jesus) is also the "mediator of a better covenant, which has been exacted on better promises."

Obviously, there is so much more to be said about covenants, and a greater explanation can be found in Hebrews 8, if you want to pursue this topic.  But for now, it is enough to focus on God's promise being fulfilled during this season of Christmas.

God always keeps His promises.

PLANS FOR MY NEW YEAR'S BLOG:  My habit of many years past has been to read my chronological Bible all the way through during one year.  Every year  . . . month . . . day (!) God gives me new thoughts and insights from the depth of His Word.  And I have barely scratched the surface!  So my plan, beginning in January, is to write down some thoughts that occur to me as I go through the corresponding passages in my chronological Bible.  I could do this for the rest of my life and not make a dent in the wisdom found therein.  Maybe I will!  So I invite you to stick with me as together we dig deep into the bottomless pit of God's Wisdom!

ANOTHER NOTE:  This may be my last blog sent from blogger.com.  So if you want to join me on my new site and not have any disruption in receiving my blogs, please go to http://www.lindaruthstai.com and sign up to receive them in your inbox!  I will also continue to make them available weekly on Facebook.  See you next Wednesday, one week before, as I tell my grandsons, "the best birthday party of them all!"

KEY SA #9: NO RAIN; NO RAINBOW

I wanted to insert a photo here of the rainbow we saw at the beach wedding last month, but can't figure out how to do it!  Maybe before this blog is published, I will have found a way to do it.  Hope so!

The day our oldest son, K, married his beautiful bride, M, was the only day it rained at our beautiful resort weekend in Mexico.  But after a few preliminary sprinkles in the afternoon, God held the rain off so we got a bunch of great beach photos and were able to celebrate the marriage ceremony with the bride and groom under the white, flowing canopy on the beach without getting wet.  The bride's father is a pastor, so he preformed the sacred ceremony.  In the middle of his message, just as he was talking about the marriage "covenant," a spectacular rainbow appeared in the sky, just off to the side.  We stopped the ceremony to look at it and appreciate what seemed to be God's personal blessing on their union.

Immediately after the conclusion of the ceremony, rain began to pelt us.  We all ran to the nearest beach cabana for shelter and squeezed together sharing much coziness and joyful hilarity.  It was a great "picture moment!"  We were all soaked and hairdos were ruined, but the rain stopped again and we got a few more "fun" beach photos.

Before the dinner and reception, we had some free time, enough for me to "restructure" my hair-do that already was plastered with hair spray and for my husband, Gary, to dry off his shirt with the hair dryer.  He has such creative ideas!  :)  This setting for the reception and dinner had to be changed due to more wind and rain, but we were moved to the lovely "ocean room" in the hotel and had so much fun!  A beach dinner would have been romantic, but I don't see how anyone could have enjoyed the evening any more than we did, warm and dry inside the building.

My other daughter-in-law, K, shared a wise comment that day, "No rain; no rainbow."  So true.  God always knows exactly what we need.  If I had been in charge of the weather that day, I would have selected a forecast of no precipitation to provide for a calm, peaceful evening on the beach.  But were it not for the rain, we would not have had God's special blessing of a meaningful rainbow in the middle of the marriage ceremony.  And I do believe the the run to the cabana and the dinner/dance inside was more fun and a better bonding experience for all of us than the beach reception would have provided.

So help me remember, Father God, when You send or allow the "rains" and "storms" of life, that You are also in charge of the rainbows, and remind me that many of the "rainbow blessings" in my own life would not have been possible were it not for the "trials of rain."

KEY SA#8: A FUTURE OUT OF THIS WORLD

Today is my mother's birthday, Nov. 28th.  As I write this, I picture her in heaven strolling along the streets of gold with my father, hand in hand, as they so often were in this world.  Maybe Jesus is walking with them and they are chatting about all the prayers He answered for them when they resided for a short time in Earth . . . only 86 years for my mom and 96 for my dad. . . not much time when compared to Eternity.   Or maybe they are talking about their children and grandchildren still living here and asking for His protection and guidance for us.  Who knows?

Last week, I blogged about our fabulous trip to Cancun to celebrate the wedding of our oldest son, K, and his beautiful bride, M.  Now I am remembering the luxury of the resort where we stayed.  Every room had a canopy bed and a jacuzzi.  Our deck overlooked one of the huge pools surrounded by coconut and other palm trees.  Gorgeous bushes produced a lavish display of deep rose blooms and green and purple leaves lined walkways.  Gourmet meals were constantly available at the many restaurants as a tempting treat for our tongues.  Yes, it was expensive, although we got a deal because of the wedding.  But it was well worth it!

What is it about us humans that we are attracted so easily to luxury?  At least, most of us seem to be!  It is because of greed?  Or discontent?  Or a legitimate desire to rest from our daily problems and be served for a while?  Or is it a part of our longing for Home?  For no costly luxury available on this Earth can begin to compare to the richness and glorious splendor of Heaven's Home.  And our Home in Heaven is FREE!  It's already paid for by our Savior Jesus Christ.  At least, a reservation is made for each of us who have confessed our sins and accepted Jesus payment in full for our transgressions . . . our rebellion . . . by His death on the cross of Calvary.  No place we go, nothing we do in this world can satisfy us in a permanent way, for humans were made to find their greatest pleasure and satisfaction in a relationship with their Creator .  I think we each long for that Abundant Life of perfection that God originally designed for the people He created.  And some of us are searching for it in the wrong places, rather than surrendering to the will of the God who made us and knows what will satisfy us perfectly.  Even though it may seem "too good to be true," the fabulous, forever future God has in store for His children will be better than any of us can imagine.

This Christmas season, I hope each of you can be certain or make certain in your hearts that your eternal future will truly be "out of this world spent with the One who loves you more than anyone else."

KEY SA $7: GOD'S PLAN . . . ONE WOMAN, ONE MAN

I just returned home from my oldest son's wedding at a fabulous tropical resort near Cancun.  Once again, I am awestruck by the wisdom of God's plan . . . one woman for one man.  God, Himself, originated the incredibly fulfilling union of a husband and wife in the marriage relationship intended to display, among other things, the character of God.

As I write this, my brain is foggy due to fatigue resulting from traveling and celebrating.  So I hope for your sake my thoughts file together in a normal progression tonight!  But here is what is on my mind . . .

Aside from God's obvious intention to institute marriage as a way to propagate the human race and fill the earth with people He created, I see several more reasons for the establishment of marriage as a base for the family unit.

First of all, God says in Genesis 2:27, "And God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them."  All the male and female characteristics are embodied in the character of God.  Man alone cannot claim to reflect the whole image of God by his personality.  Nor can woman.  Only when the two are joined in the holy state of matrimony can humanity truly reflect even a small representation of God's completeness.

Which brings us to the concept of balance in the home . . . of God's plan for parenting children.  Due to our imperfect world, death and divoorce often place a father or mother in the challenging role of a single parent.  I was one myself for two years.  But God's s ideal intention was to provide both a male and female role model for children in the home.  A woman cannot be both a mother and a father.  Nor can a man.

Male and female characteristics compliment each other to provide a stable and secure environment that can promote the normal emtional and spiritual development of a child.  God can and does "fill in the gaps" when needed, as in the examples cited above.  But we can only succeed as a culture if we commit to live in obedience to His design for marriage.

Finally, apart from the union of a man and woman, there is no natural, God-ordained way to produce children.  As I watched my son and his bride standing under the canopy, holding hands and exchanging vows, bubbly sparks of love and delight flew from eye to eye.  The strong male physic of the groom enhanced the soft, gentle form of his bride.  Their physical differences filled out the picture .  They "fit" together.  Since his original ploy for deception in the Garden of Eden, Satan has been attempting to distort God's perfect plan for the people He created.  Through the distortion of marriage, Satan attempts to thwart God's plan for procreation.

We will find God's ways to be victorious at the end of time.  May we as a people choose to follow His ways now.

KEY SA#6: STAY CLOSE

Exciting news in the Land of Abundant Living!  My grandsons, Big C and Little c, welcomed their baby sister, Baby B, into their family this week!  God is so amazing and His gift of life so precious.  I was honored to spend a couple of days with Mommy and Baby B in the hospital so Daddy could take the boys home for a brief period of "normalcy" after his long night at the hospital.

I spent a good portion of the night happily relieving Mommy so she could get a few hours of sleep.  Treasured moments were recorded in my memory of cuddling my first precious grand-daughter, staring with awe at her tiny, yet perfectly formed, fingers and toes . . . her rosebud mouth . . . tenderly stroking her soft cheek and running my hand gently over her velvety hair.  I do not believe anything can compare with the softness of a new-born baby's cheeks and hair.

Daddy and the boys came to visit "Baby Sister" the next day.  Nurses and family have held the precious infant since then.  But I noticed in the hospital that, even as this young age, Baby B knew her mommy.  No matter who held her or how she was held, when Mommy picked her up a sense of peace and contentment was immediately evident.  She recognized Mommy's voice from 9 months of life inside her womb.  Others gave her love, but the one she clung to was the one she knew the best.

That is how we humans are made to be.  Just as a new-born infant latches onto her mommy . . . the one who gives her security and assurance . . . so we are meant to stay close to the One who gives us the ultimate security and love, through the sacrifice of His precious Son, Jesus Christ.    By reading God's Word, the Bible, and spending time alone in prayer, we learn to listen to Him and to recognize His voice.   We find some of our needs met by spending time with other people and through involvement in activities, but the One we need supremely . . . the One who truly satisfies . . . is the God to whom we cling . . . the One who is always there for us.

In a few weeks, I plan to make the switch to my new blog site on word press.  In order to receive my emails to your email box without disruption, please go to lindaruthstai.com and click on "blog."  You will find a box there to sign up.  I would be happy to make the switch for you, but I can't figure out how to do it!  So I ask for your help and greatly appreciate your desire to continue on with me as we journey through the Land of Abundant Living!

KEY SA#5: "IT WILL GO WELL . . . "

As I write this on Tuesday, November 6th, after placing my vote, I have no idea who will be our president tomorrow.  But I do know that God is still in charge and will continue to be in charge of our country and He will, in His perfect wisdom, allow what will we need and what will give Him glory.  His love is perfect and His justice is perfect.

Whoever wins the election, changes and adjustments will be required of us.  Our culture has been degenerating; I feel like I'm living in a different country from the one where I grew up.  Since I was sick this past week, I have spent more time than usual in front of our television, resting.  The channel my husband and I enjoy the most is ME TV from Minneapolis, MN.  It displays the old shows that we watched as children and teenagers.  Please forgive me for commenting on  "the good old days."  As a child and young adult, I always hated to hear grown-ups talking like their "youth worlds" were so much better than mine.  And I'm truly not claiming that, because after all, it was my generation of the sixties that promoted the drug culture and the Hippie "free sex" movement!

But in the fifties, when I was a child, my parents never had to worry about what television shows I saw.  Back in those days, even the bad guys didn't swear (at least not on television)!  The theme of one "Dick Van Dyke" show I watched revolved around the predicament that he and his wife, Mary Tyler Moore, found themselves in when their young son used a "bad word." Of course, we never heard the bad word; they never said it aloud, just whispered it into each other's ear and made horrified faces.  I don't know what it was, because the television stations at that time knew that the typical citizen of our great country would also be shocked to hear that word on TV.

My friends and I could roam the streets of our little town safely at any time of the day or night.  Kidnappers only took children of wealthy people . . . primarily for money, of course!  As a child, I never heard of abortion and I didn't know what a homosexual was until I was full grown.  Now both practices are given status in our country. And while I truly love and have compassion for the people caught up in such situations, I am sad that the practices are commonplace in our modern culture.

Obviously, sin and evil have existed since the time of Adam and Eve, but at least where and when I grew up, most people recognized that God was supreme and when we died, we would "meet our Maker."  There was a healthy respect; even those who were not Christians generally lived by (at least superficially) by Christian values and showed respect for God.

I am praying that God will send repentance and revival to our nation; that we will once again become the Christian nation that our founders established and provided for in our unique constitution, a country that respected and defended religious freedom for all citizens.  But since I cannot predict our future, I will also share words of comfort from Isaiah 3:10, where in the midst of a discourse on the wickedness of the culture of the nation, Israel, at that time period, God spoke through the prophet to assure His people, "Say to the righteous that it will go well with them, for they will eat the fruit of their actions."

MAY GOD BLESS AMERICA AGAIN!

KEY SA #6: A WAVE FROM AN OLD WOMAN

Driving on for a while the following morning, I discover another "pull over" rest stop and climb out to stretch my weary legs.  Looking over this railing, I spot another pleasant sight, though completely different from the one I saw the previous day.  Yesterday, I enjoyed watching children in all stages of life, from conception and on.

Today I see the other end of the spectrum . . . the elderly . . . mixing and mingling, or sitting in peaceful solitude.   I spot one old woman whose skin is covered with deep wrinkled crevices  . . . who walks with a hunched over back, hanging onto a cane for support.  As though sensing my stare, she stops to smile and give me a wave.  As I wave back, I feel an almost tangible connection made between our souls that is not hindered by age barriers.  Her spirit is whole and complete, yet she lives in a body that is obviously wearing out.   We both have the similar emotions, wants and needs as that of any other woman . . . of any age.   Sometimes when I look in my mirror I get surprised because the face that stares back appears older than I feel.  When she looks in the mirror of her mind, does she see a young maiden with her whole life ahead of her? Or does she merely see a body that is slowing fading away?

What must it be like to have a whole lifetime of experiences wrapped up in a failing body? What is her story?  How many emotions has she encountered in her time of existence on this Earth?  Perhaps she has experienced the entire range of feelings.  Did she give birth to many children?  Or "mother" nieces and nephews?  Did she loose a loved one?  Or several loved ones?  

Who takes care of her?  Who listens to her?  Who visits her? 

Is she treated with dignity and respect?  Does she find the opportunity to pass on to others wisdom she has struggled and suffered for years to attain?  Are her prayers more fervent than mine since she has known so much of life that I have yet to discover?  Does anyone take the time to learn from her vast range of life-history?  Okay, I know I'm past sixty . . . just barely . . . :)  but I don't feel old at all yet.  I hope I never do!  My body still works quite well and my mind . . . well, that's another subject!  :)  But I'm not elderly and I hope and pray that when I reach that stage of life, God will still use me to extend His love and goodness to others, to share things that I have learned . . . often the hard way . . . on this journey through Life so that others can benefit from my own experiences.  "O God, You have taught me from my youth; and to this day I declare Your wondrous works.  Now also when I am old and gray-headed, O God, do not forsake me, until I declare Your strength to this generation, Your power to everyone who is to come."  Psalm 71:17-18

How important is one elderly woman in the everyday kaleidoscope of youth, activity, busy-ness and progress?  I sense that The Master considers her of extreme importance.  

And so must I.

The old woman turns as a thin, kindly-looking man approaches her.  He takes one hand and they look up at each other, smile with their eyes as only two souls who mated for life can, turn and walk slowly away.

I wipe a tear from my eye.

copyright 2012 linda ruth stai--author and inspirational speaker

KEY RB#6: LETTER FROM A BABY

"Life does not begin at birth.  Birth is only a change in the place of residence."  (Unknown author)

Traveling onward along the deeper road in The Land of Abundant Living, I now spot a sign which reads "Detour."  I sigh.  Will I ever reach my destination?  But then, isn't the journey part of the destination?  So I rewind my mind and turn on the "eager" switch, wondering what wisdom this new road will reveal to me.  It doesn't take long to find out.

The view changes as I approach a "pull off"rest area where I can get a tremendous look at the whole scene in the grasslands beneath me.  I park my dependable lavender vehicle and hop out to pier over the railing.

What a happy sight!  The entire landscape is filled with children . . . most of whom are at play.  Mothers carry their babies and some toddlers.  The sounds of childish laughter delight my senses and flood my heart with joy.   I do so love children, especially my two wonderful grandsons.  And now we are anticipating the birth of their little sister which will bring even more joy to our family.

I watch as the children interact or entertain themselves.  They are of all nationalities, skin color, sizes and . . . oh, my!  Some of them are so tiny.  I squint my eyes and lean partially over the railing for a closer look. How can such small children be alive?  Their mothers caress them tenderly in their arms.  No, wait!  Some hold their babies in their arms, but other babies seem to be attached to their mother's tummies.  Impossible!  But of course!

The light in my foggy brain clicks on again.  In the Land of Abundant Living, I am somehow permitted to see even the tiny ones still in their mother's wombs.  My eyes catch the minutest of the babies in all stages of development, from conception and on.  How sweet!  There's one tiny one sucking his thumb.  And over there are two incredibly small sisters with their tiny arms wrapped around each other, fast asleep.   Then another one . . . a little boy who is jumping and kicking.  Oh, my, his mommy holds her tummy with one hand and beckons an older child to her side.  Must be the baby's sister.  She runs excitedly to pat her mom's tummy and smiles up at her.

This precious scene has stirred my heart, but I must move on.  Nightfall is approaching and I do want to reach a guest house before darkness falls.  As I turn, a small white envelope on the ground catches my eye.  Curiously, I pick it up.  It is addressed to "Grown-Up Friend."  That must mean me!  I am a grown-up and definitely consider myself a friend to children.

I tear open the envelope and pull out a fragile piece of stationery with flowing waves of pinks and blues forming a pastel background.  The note is written with small but perfect lettering.  I read:

Dear Grown-up Friend,

Have you ever received a letter from a baby before?  I know it's unusual, but I am determined to share my thoughts and feelings with you.  You see, I am a lot like you.  I have two arms and two legs, ten fingers and ten toes, a mind eager to learn and similar desires for health and happiness.  My needs are simple but urgent.  I need someone to take care of me, to love, encourage and support me until I am able to care for myself.

But I will not only take from you.  I can also give.  I am capable of showing much affection to those who are dear to me.  As the years go by, I will often be stubborn and demand my own way.  Please remember that I am trying to find my own identity and discover my limits.

I have a tremendous potential for acquiring knowledge.  When I am grown, I will be able to use this knowledge along with my creative abilities to enrich mankind and improve the life style for many.

But first . . . I have to be born.

                     Please give me that chance.

With love, A Little Person      "For You have formed my inward parts; You have covered me in my mother's womb.  

I will praise You,  for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works."  Psalm 139:13-14      

Copyright 2012 Linda Ruth Stai-author and inspirational speaker

FOLLOW ME ON WORD PRESS!

Greetings friends,
Thank you so much for following my blog at blogger.com!  I have appreciated your faithfulness and enjoyed your comments!
I am excited about making the switch to Word Press where you can continue to read my blog and also check out my speaking info and book store all in one place.
So please go to http://www.lindaruthstai.com and click on "blog."  Then you may go to the box on the right side and sign up to follow me at my new site.
You can also google "lindaruthstai" to find my new Abundant Living web site on Word Press.
After a few weeks, I plan to close blogger and hope to still "visit" with you at the new site!
Have a wonderful "God-blessed" Day!
Linda Ruth Stai

KEY #RB5: LAW OR LOVE?

Thinking back to last week's tour in the Land of Abundant Living, do you recall that I said I'd discuss the Law further this week?

What sort of thoughts come to the forefront of your mind when you hear the word "Law?"  Please mentally list three words.  Here are mine:  obey, punishment, justice.

I have a high respect for the law of my country and the men and women who enforce it.  Not that I wouldn't like to see some changes made, but my intention is to work within the framework and structure in place to being about those changes.  I grew up living next door to a deputy sheriff.  He and his wife were terrific neighbors and friends whom I highly respected.  And it was comforting to know that the Law lived right next door to us in case we had trouble and needed help!

Last week, I talked about how the Love of Christ sets me free from false guilt.  And the week before how the Love of God working through the blood of Christ sets me free from real guilt.  So how do I reconcile the Law with Love?  There is an easy answer for that.  Yes, a simple answer that even a child can understand.  Everyone is guilty of sin of wrongdoing.  Someone has to pay for that sin. God loves us so much that He was willing to give His very own, precious Son to suffer and die on the cross to pay for that sin in our place. If we accept that payment for ourselves, God will adopt us as His child and will take care of us in this life and in the next!  Period.

So why do we make it so complicated?  Because of our feelings and our self-centeredness.  Our feelings of uncertainty, fear and selfishness often conflict with the truth.  So to bring my feelings into alignment with the truth, I remind myself that my Law is God's Love.  Jesus is not only my Savior but my Lord.  Jesus is my King!  He is the One who deserves my total allegiance.  He is the One I must focus on honoring and obeying.

And because of my self-centeredness, I want to put myself above the Law!  When I am confronted with the enemy's accusations (see last week's blog), and I instinctively question my thoughts or actions, the eyes of my mind need to turn to the One whom I serve and honor.  It is because of my allegiance to my Lord that I choose to obey the Law of the Land. When I choose to obey my Lord Jesus, everything else falls into place.  When I decide to obey the highest Law of God, doing the right thing will be automatic.  If I try to push Him off the throne of my heart so I can occupy it, even for a moment in time, I will fail . . . fall into sin.  When I keep my eyes on Him, I succeed.  Maybe not in the ways that I wish success for my own purposes, but in the ways that will succeed for Eternity . . . for lasting purposes that go far beyond my own desires . . . goals that are so much more important than my own petty wishes.  And one day, those purposes will result in the Eternal Law of the Land of Heaven and I will find myself totally in line with them and grateful that I made the decision to abide by the Law of my Lord, the Law of Love,  in this temporary world.

Copyright 2012 Linda Ruth Stai, Author and Inspirational Speaker

KEY #RB4: GUILTY OR NOT?

I feel so much better now that I have passed by the garbage truck.  What a relief to get rid of that load of ugly, contaminated sin!  The view is amazing from here.  One thing I love about the Land of Abundant Living is that the seasons change frequently and I can pass from a gorgeous summer day with sparkling, diamond crusted lake waters into a brisk autumn scene with golden and raspberry toned trees within a matter of minutes.  Reminds me of Minnesota weather!  :o)

But what is this?  Oh, oh, the next roadblock!  A police car is pulling in behind me.  I feel my foot lift slightly off the accelerator.  But why on earth am I instinctively reacting like that?  I am one of those rare citizens who still observe speeding laws as a regular practice.  I have never gotten a speeding ticket and never expect to, unless it is some sort of a misunderstanding.  So why do I automatically lift my foot at the sight of a police vehicle?

Guilt.  But not real guilt.  The symbol of the Law causes me to consider any possible wrongdoing.  (More on that topic next week)  Do you ever have feelings of guilt even though you know in your head that you have done nothing wrong?  It happens to me every day. Part of the reason is that I set such high standards for myself that I am unable to attain.  I want to be the perfect wife, mother, grandmother, friend, housekeeper, cook, writer, Bible study leader, gardener (Yes, really, it doesn't show at all, but the desire is there!).  Etc. . . . And I inwardly scold myself when I can't reach my goals.

Then there are the questions from the enemy:  "Why didn't you make that phone call you intended to make to the new person at church?"  "Why didn't you write that letter or send that card?"

And his accusations:  ""You cut your Bible reading short today!"  (I love to spend time in God's Word, but interruptions happen!)  "You should have spoken up when you had the chance; coward!"  "You didn't check facebook again!"

The confusion:  Why do churches have conflict and division?  Why can't we all seem to share 'the mind of Christ?'  How can people who genuinely love God differ so greatly in their opinions?

The realization:  I can't figure everything out and I can't measure up!  No matter how hard I try, I fall short!

The cure:  Hang onto Jesus!  Trust Him; trust His wisdom and His love.  At times when I 'm with my precious grandsons, I just sit and watch them (but not for long, or they want Grandma to do something with them!) and my heart almost explodes with love for them!  Then I remind myself that God loves me even more than I love my grandsons . . . or my children . . . and I can rest in that perfect love.

God, give me a calm peaceful spirit that can rest in You no matter how how incompetent I feel.  Don't let me give into false guilt because I am only one person and cannot do all that I want to do.  Help me to find the time to accomplish all that You intend for me to do this day, and be able to let the rest go.  Your plans are all that matter!  I want to deal with the real guilt in my life and let You wash it away with the blood of Jesus Christ.  I don't need to deal with false guilt that wears me down and hinders my productivity.

Relieved again!  

Oh, no, the police car has his siren on.  I need to pull over.  Beads of sweat break out on my forehead.  He's approaching my car.  What did I do wrong???

"Yes, officer?"

"I just wanted to stop you and thank you, Ma'am for obeying the laws of our Land.  Have a pleasant day!"

Whew.

Copyrighted 2012 Linda Ruth Stai, Author and Inspirational Speaker

KEY #RB3: DUMP THAT TRASH!

Can this be?  A garbage truck is the first Roadblock along my deeper pathway into the Land of Abundant Living?  I suppose there would necessarily be garbage even here in the Land, but why does the truck have to take up the whole roadway?  It  is even parked sideways, stretching completely across the road!  I have no option but to bring my stylish lavender vehicle to a stop and wait it out.

NOTE:  I apologize for the late blog this week!  We are in the process of transferring to word press and are running into some glitches.  Thanks for bearing with me . . . hope to get back on schedule soon!

Tapping my fingers against the steering wheel with nervous impatience, I remind myself that as soon as the garbage men finish their work, I'll be moving on to greater discoveries in wisdom and insight that were promised me at the beginning of this journey.  Not much insight is revealed by staring at the side of a garbage truck. . .

Then I remember an incident that occurred about twenty years ago.   In fact the situation is becoming quite clear in my mind.  It happened when my husband and I were celebrating our tenth anniversary in Hawaii . . . "It was a dream come true, one whole week in Hawaii with my husband!  Gary and I had left our three children in the care of delighted grandparents while we hopped on a plane to celebrate our tenth anniversary in a style to which we were not accustomed!

The climate was perfect, 75-80 degrees and continuously sunny, a true tropical paradise.  Our hotel was situated on the ocean shore.  The view from our balcony displayed a panoramic scene of mountain grandeur adorned with lush greenery and crested peaks.  The heady scent of tropical flowers hung in the air. 

I felt like I'd stepped into a painting.  

Reclining on the balcony inthe stillness of the morning snuggled in my white terry cloth robe, I sipped a cup of steaming herb tea.  Soft breezes caressed my hair.  The only sound was the melodic chirping of birds as they lifted their silver-toned voices in a harmony of praise.

It was the perfect setting for my quiet time with God.  I sighed contentedly, reached for my Bible and began to read.

Suddenly, a loud, clamoring noise creashed into my serenity.  Gancing up, I watched a huge, ungainly garbage truck rumble down the street and come to a stop directly in front of my hotel.

Two men leaped out of the cab, grabbed nearby trash cans and began the repulsive job of dumping refuge. 

Screeching gears rose to a crescendo as the hungry, gaping mouth of the vehicle opened to receive its meal.  The chorus of birds was silenced by the bellowing atrocity.  Stale oders replaced the scents of fragrant blossoms.  An abundance of putrid waste forced a mood of stark reality into the immaculate setting.  Grating noises reverbrated across the jagged edges of my nerves.  'Why do they have to do that now?' I inwardly groaned, irritated that the racket would spoil my quiet time with God.

Then it hit me.

Just as the unwelcome intrusion of the noisy garbage truck defaced the perfect scene in front of me, so the rotten core of my sin often marred the perfect picture of my fellowship with God.

In fact, wasn't I out here on the balcony for the same purpose that the garbage truck had made its appearance?  To dump my own trash?  To dump my trash load of sin at the feet of my heavenly Father so He could dispose of it properly under the blood of Jesus?

I bowed my head and began to confess my sins.

The garbage men finished their repugnant chore and guided the cumbersome vehicle farther down the street. 

Peace was restored, in the beauty of the splendor set before me.

And also restored in my heart."  

HOPE TO SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT WEEK AS WE TRAVEL ON TOGETHER!      c 2012 linda ruth stai

KEY RB#2: WHERE ARE YOU GOING?

As we begin our new journey deeper into the Land of Abundant Life, I find myself frantically hunting through various compartments in my trusty, lavender vehicle for a road map.  Up until this time, the roadways have been laid out neatly and orderly with prominent signs.  Now I find myself at the start of a new path with many twists and turns.   I'm confused.  No one that I’ve met in this Land has given me any instructions or directions.  I don't know where I am going!

Another scary thought just occurred to me.  If I don’t know where I’m going . . . what my destination is . . . how am I supposed to get there?  All this time, I’ve wandered in the Land, experiencing new discoveries and pleasures . . . finding answers.  Yet, now that I am preparing to journey into the depths of the Land where I hope to discover hidden treasures of wisdom and insight, I am confronted with uncertainty and questions. Where am I going?  Which way do I turn?  How do I know I’m on the right road?  And exactly what is my destination?  
There really is no point in beginning to travel if I don't know where I expect to end my journey!

I remember as a child, my daddy always knew the right direction.  You could place him in the middle of a tall cornfield and he could tell you which way was north, south, east or west.  My mother, however, was just the opposite.  Although she was a very intelligent and competent woman, she could easily get lost because she didn’t have an inborn sense of direction.  Her best friend, Shirley, was also directionally challenged.  Since the two women were my primary role models, I grew up thinking that it was unfeminine to know where I was! 

I guess I’d better make a decision soon or I could just sit here forever clueless as to which way to turn.  But I can’t do this alone.  I need guidance from someone who has been deep into the Land, someone who knows the way.   

Isn’t it a shame that this well-built and classy-looking vehicle doesn’t contain a road map?  The only piece of literature in it is my Bible, which goes with me everywhere. 

Of course, that's it!  The Bible is my Road Map!  There is SomeOne who has gone ahead of me and SomeOne who knows the way.  God provided His Road Map, the Bible, to set before me a choice of destinations as I journey through Life.  And if I choose His Way, He will lead me every step along the correct route.

I realize now that I already made my choice of a destination when I entered the Land of Abundant Living.  By reading God’s Word, I learned that I could choose to proceed to the Kingdom of Light, ruled by God’s Son, Jesus, the Life-giver.  Or I could go to the Kingdom of Darkness, ruled by Satan, the Life-taker.  "For He delivered us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son."  Colossians 1:13
Come on, this is a no-brainer!  Why would I choose the dark kingdom where my life will be stolen from me?  Why on earth would anyone choose it above the Kingdom of Light?  And yet, so many people do that very thing. . . it doesn’t seem logical to me. 

Maybe some answers await me as I journey on.   

But once again, my mind is at rest.  I remember when I first entered the Land of Abundant Living, Christ met me at the Door and told me that the only way to enter was through the blood of Jesus, which He gave willingly on the cross because of the Father’s tremendous love for me.  So I am safe.   I have nothing to fear. I will follow God’s Road Map all the way to the Kingdom of Light. 

Fellow traveler  on the Road of Life, have you also been through the Doorway of Christ’s blood?  Have you made the decision of your destination as you travel through Life?  Have you confessed your sins against a holy, loving God and accepted His free gift that will transfer you from the Kingdom of Darkness to the Kingdom of Light?  Will you join me in the Land of Abundant Living and travel towards the best Kingdom?

“. . . I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse.  So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants.”  Deuteronomy 30:19b

Do YOU know where you are going? Do you know how to get there?

I hope you join me next week when we take the first road on our journey into the depths of the Land of Abundant Living!

KEY RB#1" FOCUS ON THE LIGHT

Thanks for joining me as we begin a new series in the Land of Abundant Living!  The road we travel together this fall will take a few new twists and turns as we venture deeper into the center of this amazing land.
Oh, thank you for pointing out the first road sign! "WARNING . . . ROAD BLOCKS AHEAD."  I see some smaller writing underneath that is difficult to make out at this distance.  I need to get closer and slow down to read it.   Hold on . . . we'll pull over to this grassy area and stop for a moment.  If I lean out my window and squint I can just barely make it out.
"Patience and stamina are required to continue, but you will be well rewarded!"
What should we do, fellow travelers?  Do you think so?  Are we in agreement then?
Great!  I'm for going on, also!  After all, we are in this Land to find adventures and purpose, right?
OK, let's move on.  Sit back and relax.  I'll tell you when we near a trouble spot.  So far, it's a pleasant day and the view is enticing.  Peaceful hills rise in rounds like a series of cakes frosted with green grass and dotted with purple and yellow candy flowers.  I am reveling in the fresh, gentle breeze and the warmth of the sun on my shoulders.
Oh oh, another sign.  This one is easy to read:  "FOCUS ON THE LIGHT."  We can hardly miss a sign that large, but what could it mean?  The only visible light source is the sun and it is behind us.  If I focus on that, we'll have to drive backwards!
Hmm . . . a memory is pricking at the edges of my brain.  Bits and pieces are slipping through the narrow entrance and expanding as they enter, like a flat sponge that expands when soaked in water.
Yes!  My memory is getting clear now.  Let's pull over here and I'lll share it with you.

One gorgeous afternoon last week, my husband took me out for a boat ride on a small, but pretty lake a few miles from our home.  The trip was a wonderful balance of peaceful, serene contentment as we floated smoothly on crystal clear waters near the shore and exciting, invigorating thrills as we sped up and raced through the middle, bouncing over cresting waves.  Enchanting diamond sprinkles popped up in nano-seconds here and there and burst like the bubbles I blow with my grandsons as the sunshine flicked them across the surface.  I was awed and absorbed by the beauty of God's world.
When we finished the ride, my husband towed the boat out of the lake with his trusty, green truck.  As I stood waiting for him in the parkway, I happened to glance across the highway and noticed a cemetery on the other side.  How strange!  We have lived in our country home for six years and this was the first time I noticed the cemetery.  How could I be so unobservant?
I suppose at some point, maybe the first time I took that road, I saw the cemetery on one side and the beautiful lake on the other and, possibly unconsciously, made the decision that viewing the cemetery was not worth my time.  From then on, my eyes were riveted to the waters whenever I took this route and gradually I forgot the cemetery even existed.

Wow!  What a lesson as we begin our new journey in the Land of Abundant Living!  We have choices every day as to where we will place our focus.   Will I turn my spiritual, emotional, and intellectual eyesight to the Light of God's Word and His holy presence in my circumstances just as I turned my physical eyes towards the light sprinkles dancing on the lake?  Or will I harbor dismal "death-producing" worries and fears about possible calamities to come as represented by the quiet cemetery?


"Every single day, things happen to us that we consider good and bad.  What do you suppose God wants us to focus our thoughts on?  See Philippians 4:8:  "Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, let your mind dwell on these things."
Why do you think God wants us to think about these things?
God wants His children to live with joy, in the midst of problems and to be happy!  He loves us and He knows that He can handle our problems if we yield them to Him.  He wants us to trust Him and go on our day rejoicing!"  (Taken from The View From Eternity by Linda Ruth Stai)

I have to admit, my thoughts and general well-being are lifted when I turn my eyes towards the sparkling waters instead of gazing on the assortment of tombstones across the highway.  So can I expect my thoughts and sense of well-being to be lifted to a higher spiritual level when I turn my eyes on Jesus, the Light of Life, instead of letting Satan, the dark deceiver of death, control my thoughts?
Yes!  All right, let's travel on together and see what adventures await us . . . full speed ahead! 

KEY #SA: GOD'S SPECIAL AGENTS

Are you one of God's special agents?  Two influences have recently directed my thoughts towards this area.  First of all, I want to make it clear that this discussion is not based on a theological fact, just my own mind delving into areas of interest to ponder.  I have never seen the term "special agents" in my Bible!  But I would love to help stimulate your thought process and welcome you to ponder along with me.
First of all, as I was watching a television show the other night about special agents, it suddenly occurred to me that God may have His own special agents!
When I was a teen-ager, my secret aspiration was to become a spy.  I even mentioned that in a yearbook article that was written about me.  OK, so it lost it's "secret" status.  But why such a strange ambition, you may ask?  Probably the idea of a mysterious life full of thrills and adventure enticed me at the time.  My life was good, but rather "set" in the ordinary realm.  As true with many young people, I craved excitement!  And no, in case you are wondering, I never did get into that field.  But would I tell you if I did?!?  :o)
Secondly, in my Bible these past days, I have been reading about the life of Job, the righteous man who lost all his children, livestock and health at the hand of Satan, but remained faithful to God through it all.  And, at the end of the book, God rewarded Job's faithfulness by giving him more than he had before the tragic circumstances happened to him!
But of course, Job was not a spy, or even a government employee, so what on earth could he have in common with a special agent?

Let's consider the likely job description of a special agent.  Here are some ideas I came up with:
1.  Being called upon for a specific, challenging task.  Only the best men and women are even considered for this type of devoted work!
2.  Going way beyond the normal "call of duty," often working behind the scenes with little or no public recognition.
3.  Living a focused and prioritized life, giving one's whole all . . . mind, body and soul . . . for a noble cause.
You may have more to add.  Anyway, keeping all these characteristics in mind, which children of God  do you think would qualify for the position as a special agent of God?
Some whom I personally would vote for include:
1.  Someone who is living with constant pain or suffering from a debilitating or terminal disease.
2.  A child of God chosen for a specific purpose away from the spotlight in an unobtrusive place, such as caring for a vulnerable person (ex:  the elderly, small children, or one who is mentally or physically challenged).  Their work is highly regarded by God as important,  caring for the "least of these."
2.  Someone who is mentally or physically challenged, facing misunderstandings and rejection from others who don't know how to relate to them.
Can you think of others?  Maybe even yourself!

Next, let's consider how could these situations possibly fit into the category of being a special agent of God's.   When sin came into the perfect world God made through Adam and Eve's choices, it became a constant source of trouble for everyone born after them.  God sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to pay the penalty for sin on the cross, and everyone who choses now to surrender to God and accept Jesus' sacrifice for them will have God's free gift of eternal life.  In the meantime, while we co-exist with evil on earth, God is quite capable of using the evil for His good purposes, one of the greatest being to share this Good News and bring multitudes of people to heaven.
God sometimes "calls" an individual for a specific, challenging "task" that will stretch them way beyond the normal existence.  These chosen "special agents" face a lifetime of questions, often setting aside their own dreams and personal expectations so God can use them in ways that only He sees as purposeful in this world.  The truth is that a child of God who is assigned this type of confusing and uncertain place is given a high trust from his or her heavenly Father.  And that trust is, as Job experienced, to accept the situation without losing faith in their loving heavenly Father.  God expects them to trust His goodness to use them in a very special and powerful way even though they don't understand what He is doing at the time.

If you as a Christian find yourself existing in this type of cloudy circumstance, you can be assured that God has chosen you for a special honor.  He knows that when we are faced with a difficult situation and do not turn away from God, we become a tremendous influence, an example to show others that God alone is enough . . . that He alone can make life worth living.  Others who see our God-given peace through hardships may be convinced to accept God's free gift of eternal life through observing our patience and hope in the midst of trials.  Some of us are also selected for a one-time "special assignment" before returning to a life of normalcy.  The trust we hold in these temporary situations is also of critical importance.  
I know it does not seem like an honor when the days are dismal, painful or full of turmoil . . . when the light at the end of the tunnel is not only unseen, but extinguished.  But the fact is existence on this earth is only temporary.  The "real" forever life is yet to come, when God "shall wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there shall no longer be any death; there shall no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away."  Revelation 21:4
When all we have is the hand of God to hold, that is enough.  His grace will enable us to carry and protect the large trust He has placed in our hands.  And when we get to heaven, we will see with clear sight how God has used our trials in this world to work miracles for eternity!
I confess, at this time in my life, with more experiences behind me than I posessed as an idealistic teen-ager, I have no desire to become of of these "special agents."  I can only pray for God's grace to handle whatever comes my way with a child-like trust in His love and goodness.

My novel, The Rose Journal, addresses in an imaginative story the questions and possible outcomes through one woman's life when she is given an opportunity to accept a trust from God with no guarantees of a positive outcome.  If you are interested, you can go to my website, www.rosejournal.com to check it out. 

NEXT WEEK, I PLAN TO START A NEW SERIES ON FINDING MY WAY THROUGH ROADBLOCKS IN THE LAND OF ABUNDANT LIVING.   I'D BE DELIGHTED TO HAVE YOU JOIN ME!

KEY SB#16: "Go Deep into the Woods . . . "

"Where is the path, Grandma?"Big C turns and lifts his arms upwards in frustration.  "I can't find it with all these trees!"  I tighten my grip on Little c's hand and together we hurry to catch up with him.  My seven-year-old grandson had run ahead in his eagerness to discover the hidden pathway through the woods to the secret place I had promised to show him and his two-year-old brother, Little c.

(*NOTE:  IF YOU WANT TO READ OF OUR PREVIOUS SUMMER ADVENTURES IN THE LAND OF ABUNDANT LIVING, PLEASE GO TO THE ARCHIVES ON THE RIGHT!)

"Hmmm, it was around here somewhere.  My friend, Marian, showed me the path a while ago."  We hunted for a few moments.  

"No sekwet pat," Tears start to form in Little c 's eyes.  "Me no see sekwet."  

My heart melts as I try to encourage him.  "I know it's here somewhere.  Let's keep looking."

"Here it is!"  Big C suddenly exclaims with delight.  "Is this it, Grandma?"

Little c's tears evaporate as quickly as they had appeared and he rushes ahead of his brother.  

"Watch out for fallen branches and eye-pokers!" I shout in warning.

"Eye pokers?" Both boys turn mid-step and stare at me with bewilderment.

"Those are the branches on the trees that stick out at you.  Push them away or walk around them."

"I know that, Grandma," Big C reminds me.  "I'm old."  He adds with caution, "But you watch out, Little c." 

"Okay."  His younger brother nods solemnly as he pushed a branch out of his way. 

We plunge on ahead between the large trees for a few minutes when Big C thinks to ask, "What are we looking for, Grandma?"

Just then, I trip and squeal, toppling forward and hitting my chin on the ground.  Now tears form in my eyes as I roll over on one elbow and rub my tender chin with one hand.  

Little c, who is the closest, rushes to grab my arm and tugs on it in an attempt to help me up.  "Gamma," he admonishes me, "You watch out!  Be care-fo."

Laughter replaces my tears.  'Yes, Little c, I'll try harder to watch where I'm going."

I stand up and brush myself  off.  "We are here, boys!  We're at the secret place!"

The boys gaze around in puzzlement.    

"Me jest see twees," says Little c, "Aw awound."  

"Oh, but look, Little c," exclaims his big brother, pointing towards the sky, "That tree is reeee-aaa-lllly huge!"  

Oooh," Little c cranks his neck upwards trying to catch a glimpse of the tree top.  "Goes up aaw da way to hebben!"

"My friend told me that this tree was written up in the Minneapolis paper a long time ago, because it is one of the oldest and largest cottonwood trees in our state of Minnesota!" I explain.  "I brought my camera with me.  Why don't you two stand by the tree and I'll take your picture?"

"Can I take your picture instead, Grandma?  I like to use the camera!" Big C offers.  

"Me help!" Little c joins in.  

"Very well!  Here, hold it just so and push this little button," I give instructions as I hand the camera to Big C.  You may each take one picture."

"I'll take a picture of you, Grandma and Little c can take one of the top of the tree," Big C suggests. 

"Grandma, you are hugging the tree backwards!"  Big C bursts into giggles.  So does Little c.  They hold their tummies and grimace with joyful laughter.

"Well, I want the picture to show how wide the tree is!" I explain.

"Now pwease move, Gramma," Little c requests politely.  "Me take my picture."

"Whoops! Ouch!"  Little c topples backwards onto the leafy ground in his efforts at photography.  "Me not hurt."  He pops up quickly.  "Big twee.  Berry big twee."  He picks up the camera and hands it to me.  "But me got da picture!" A beaming, proud smile adorns his precious face.  

Minutes later, as the three of us sit on a blanket spread out on the grass by the church, we examine the pictures and talk.  

"Grandma, we wouldn't have ever found the huge tree if we hadn't gone into the woods," Big C pondered.  "I wouldn't have known it was there."

"Yes, just think.  I've been here many times during the past years and didn't know it was there either.  I never looked for hidden paths or went deep into the woods.  " I answered him, then added,  "It's kind of like the way some church-attenders are.  Many times I've visited this little church but never searched for hidden paths or walked deep into the woods around it.  Lots of people go to church on Sundays and hear some parts of God's Word.  But that's all they do.  They never read the Bible on their own to discover the hidden truths God wants them to learn.  They never "walk deeper" into God's Word looking for special surprises that God has to encourage them along the Path of Life.  

"I read my Bible everyday!" exclaimed Big C, "and sometimes I read it to Little c, too."

"That's a great habit to start at a young age," I affirm him.  

"And I'm glad you told us about the path, too, Grandma. And the tree."  He thinks for a moment.  "You showing me about the secret path and the tree is sort of like me showing my friends at school the story of Jesus!"

"Yes, God wants us to share the news of salvation, of His great love for us!  That makes me think of one more song, which is a good one to end our summer's journey in the Land of Abundant Living  before you return home and go back to school.  It's a song my mother . . . your great-grandmother  . . used to sing often . . . 'I love to Tell The Story":

"I love to tell the story of unseen things above, 

Of Jesus and His glory, Of Jesus and His love.

I love to tell the story, because I know it's true.

It satisfies my longing as nothing else could do.

I love to tell the story; more wonderful it seems

Than all the golden fancies of all our golden dreams.

I love to tell the story; it did so much for me.

And that is just the reason I tell it now to thee.

I love to tell the story; 'tis pleasant to repeat

What seems each time I tell it, more wonderfully sweet.

I love to tell the story, for some have never heard

the message of salvation from God's own holy Word.

I love to tell the story, for those who know it best

Seem hungering and thirsting to hear it, like the rest.

And when in scenes of glory, I sing the new, new song, 

'Twill be the old, old story, that I have loved so long."

PLEASE COME ALONG WITH ME NEXT WEEK WHEN I START MY NEW SERIES IN THE LAND OF ABUNDANT LIVING!   WE'RE GOING TO RUN ACROSS SOME ROAD BLOCKS AND DISCOVER HOW TO COPE WITH THEM.