Come to the Table

"Come to the table", she says. "It's time to eat."

I heard those exact words many times growing up. And by table, I mean my grandmother's table.  And when she called, we came a-running.  We knew that our eyes were going to see a delectable assortment of goodness, and we had been waiting for it.  

It was all about the table. That's where good things happen.  That's where children get to listen to adult conversation and pretend not to.  That's where you pass food around the table and ask, "Would you like some?'  That's where you wait until everyone is seated and pray together--as a family. 

 The table. Where you learn to sit with your hands in your lap and use a napkin properly.  It is at the table that somewhere between sitting down and asking to be excused you learn that life isn't always fair. But you still go on.  That there are hurting people in your world, that you need to help. You figure out that maybe, just maybe life does not revolve around what YOU want.  

My grandmothers table was a sight to behold. She made grilled-cheese sandwiches look good.  Which may be why tomato soup and grilled-cheese is my go-to comfort food. Her table smelled good. Her table was put together with love. You could tell by the REAL napkins and silverware. She would iron the table cloths and napkins before she used them. For her, it was an act of love and kindness to put a meal together for the presentation. And we did not take it for granted.  Even in my selfish childhood, I knew that something good and lovely happened at my Nonna's table.  

"Come to the table".  Perhaps the last time I heard her say that was when she had fixed a loaf of banana bread, which is Holy and Sacred to our family. Every single one of us have that recipe, but I don't know that any of us make it like hers. We liked going to her table. We always received more than we deserved there. 

"Come to the table" is music to my ears. With it comes delightful smells and vivid recollections of colors and textures that I don't often see.  And conversations. The kind of conversations that last long after the meal is done. The table can be cleared and food put up and still we would sit around the table. Somehow, it made us closer to each other. Some how the bonds were tightened into chords that are not easily broken.  And then, no one would want to leave the table. Things made sense there. Answers were given and life suggestions were made.  

I loved the table.  Over the years, there were many tables in our lives, but it didn't change the fact that at the table, moments were being made. Sitting in the chair around the table I felt perfectly loved and secure. It was in those moments that God, Himself showed me Who He was. And Is. And always would be.  

Today, God is saying, "Come to the table". 

He is there at the table, waiting. Waiting for us to listen to what He is saying. He has prepared the table, prepared the meal, prepared the way and all we have to do is pull up the chair and sit. Sit down in His Glorious Presence and abundant outpouring of love.  And listen. Listen to His Goodness. Listen as He tells us of His Grace. Hear the words of life that He pours over us.  

If we come to His table and bask in His Glory, I guarantee we will never want to leave. 

Pull up a chair and have a seat. There is goodness to behold.  

There'll Be Days....

Some days start well. Some days you begin the day looking forward to what is on your plate for the next 12 hours...or so.  Some days you can hardly wait to begin.

Then there are the other days. The ones that you would rather pull the covers back up and have a do-over.  The days that you wish you did not have to begin.

That was today.

That was today until God sent his ever-so subtle reminder...which felt like a sledge-hammer.... that life isn't about how we feel or what side of the bed we get up on.  Life is about doing what He has asked us to do.

I entered a room, thinking I was alone, when in the quiet of the morning I began to hear a small voice sweetly singing.  She didn't know I was there, but it wouldn't have mattered.  Her heart was singing. As I listened closely to decipher what words this small angel was offering, I stopped and took it in....every syllable:

"Greater is the One living inside of me, Greater is the one living inside of me, He's greater, He's greater."

"Greater". We sing this song at school. She may not have had the words in correct order, but her theology is quite in order. God lives inside of her and she is trusting that He is greater than everything else.

"In the world, In the world....He's greater , He's greater."

In a thirty second period of time God spoke remarkably loud through a small voice.  The song says:

There'll be days I lose the battle

Grace says that it doesn't matter

'Cause the cross already won the war

He's Greater

He's Greater

I am learning to run freely

Understanding just how He sees me

And it makes me love Him more and more

He's Greater

He's Greater

We may lose the battle and give into our feelings.  We may think we have nothing to offer and not much to give.  Maybe it's the fact that we need to quit depending on what we can do and just launch ourselves into the life of showing others Who God is and how He loves.  

Our faithful God....He's just the WHOLE THING.  He knows me, He sees me, He loves me and that alone makes me "love Him more and more." 

I could have hugged all the goods out of this sweet girl today.  Without knowing it, her singing, her sincere voice and her willingness to let it all hang out spoke volumes to this one.  

"Greater is the One living inside of me, that he who is living in the world".  

The next time you hear this song, sing it like a little blonde-haired beauty.  You might change someone's day.  

All About The Boy

This boy. The one who began our journey into grandparenting. The one who wrecked my heart and took the pieces and wrapped them up around himself.  He's having a birthday. 

He has his mothers eyes and his fathers sense of humor.  He turns all my pictures upside down on my walls when he is here.  He has learned from the uncle to "say things" loudly when we go through the drive-thru.  It may reference prison.

He 's having a birthday. You guys!  He is turning 13!

For heaven's sake, 13.  The age that means high school, college and beyond are not that far down the road.  You know that verse that talks about Mary "treasuring those things in her heart"?  I have been diligently paying attention and putting things to mind about this boy's growing up. But, my goodness.....time has flown. It's too fast. I need it to slow down to a creeping crawl.

Noah McKade Clifton....I hope you have the best birthday of all. You are my favorite 13 yr. old and I am mesmerized by you.

Where Are You Running?

People say, "Don't worry, it will be all right".  People say, "It's for the best."  People say, " You will feel better later."

Sometimes people need to say nothing.  At all. 

 Life is hard. Life throws knives and you don't see them coming.  Your days are filled with hard things and you can't find your way around it.  

People disappoint.  Perhaps they react differently than you thought they would or they don't react. Period.  At times, they just ramble without saying anything.  

In the everyday life, there will be times of significant loss, heart-wrenching failure and painful, physical situations.  How do we handle that?  How do we get to the end of the day and say, "Lord, today I honored You"?

Why is it that we tend to listen to people rather than God?  Is it because we can see the skin on them and that makes us feel better?  Is it because we don't want to make the time to petition the Answer Giver?  Are we that impatient and would rather look to fallible beings rather than the Creator?

Most likely,...yes.

When the house needs repair and the car is quitting on you.  When the job isn't all it was cracked up to be.  When the kids are doing everything except what they are supposed to be doing. When the future isn't looking so bright and promising.....where do we go?


Father in Heaven....help us to run to You.  People may try to help and provide advice, but it isn't You.  We need your undeniable wisdom. We need your grace.  When it comes to the hard things of life, may we look to You and see that Your ways are higher.  And when it is time to pass that baton of faith to our children and grandchildren, may we do it seamlessly.  May the pass be handed straight into the one who's eyes are ahead on You.

 May we all run smack dab into Your Glorious Presence.

The Wrinkles of Life

I read these words first thing this morning: "Relax in My everlasting arms.  Your weakness is an opportunity to grow strong in the awareness of My Almighty Presence."

It references Deuteronomy 32:27---The eternal God is a dwelling place, and underneath are the everlasting arms;

I also read, "Thank Me for your neediness."  What!

Thank you, Sarah Young for pointing this out.  I did not want to read this today.

Relax. Difficult. Be thankful for neediness. More than difficult.

In light of recent events in our home,  I had to pack up clothes in baskets, load them into the car and drive to a place that I don't often enter.

Be thankful for neediness.  It rang in my ears as I arrived.  It was hard. I did not want to come to this place of business.  However, our clothing situation was demanding I come.

Relax in My everlasting arms.  I want to. I really want to.  So in my neediness  I arrived, unpacked and prepared to get the job done.

I was not prepared for the unsanitary conditions of the machinery, so I had to clean before my belongings could be clean. I also was not prepared for one of the said machines to NOT go through the complete spin cycle.  It was a drippy situation.

It was a long morning.  I was not alone in my work. Others were there doing their work. And, I might add, not seeming to have the same problems I was trying to work through.  As my last load finished in the dryer, a sweet lady looked over at me and said,  "Get'em out quick, honey. Sometimes there's wrinkles and they are hard to get out."

Sometimes…..there's wrinkles.

You guys!! Sometimes we have wrinkles in our plans. Wrinkles in the way we think. Wrinkles in our heart. Sometimes OTHER people place their wrinkles on YOU. The wrinkles of life get in the way.   Often God shows you the wrinkles and says, "Get them out quick. It will be easier when you do."

Wouldn't it be easier if at the first sign of a wrinkle that we get out the smooth, hard-pressed truth of God's Word and iron out the problem?  We would love each other better and our emotions would not take over.

In my neediness today, God showed me some wrinkles and they were not pretty.  He spoke in that still, small, Sovereign voice and said, " Get'em out quick, honey.  Sometimes there's wrinkles and they are hard to get out. Turn them over to Me."  And I did.  In that  hot, noisy place where clothes are washed and spots removed,  God ironed out a mess and smoothed the wrinkled places.  Bless Him.

My reading today ended with this... "Memories of these days are richly interwoven with golden strands of My intimate Presence."

I am intensely thankful that when my soiled and wrinkled heart needs straightening out, God is there with the iron in hand and says, "I've been waiting for you."


BTW….if you do not own this…Jesus Calling by Sarah Young…just go ahead and order it. You will not regret one moment of reading it.

Be blessed…Relax in His everlasting arms….Thank Him for your neediness.

One Foot Out the Door

There was noise down the hallway today. Lots of it. Feet were running, shuffling and dragging along the inner and outer edge of the long blue-edged walk that leads to hours of learning.  There were sounds of renewed friendships, sounds of "I don't want to" and sounds of parents with slips of tears running down their cheeks. For me, these are the sounds of feet that are one foot out the door. 

School is a good thing. Things happen there. Learning happens, academic and social.  Friends happen. The kind that last a lifetime.  We learn how to be responsible and take control of our actions. Sometimes.  Parents send their children to school to further education and learn some life skills.

But, with each year of learning and advancing in grade, it only brings each and every student closer to heading out the door and parents watching as their feet walk firmly away. From us.

If we only have these children for a while...A time period...A short span of life...then what does God want us to invest in with these small beings that He fashioned for us?  We can invest in the best schools, the best home-schooling materials, the best of what ever it takes to educate these precious treasures and still miss the exact reason that God put those gifts into our lives. Obtaining the "American Dream" is not it.  Yes, we want our children to succeed and become productive citizens in our society, but what does God want from them? And what does He expect us to do?

Deuteronomy 6 is clear.  We are to teach our children how to love God when we are sitting in our house, when we are walking down the way, when we lie down and when we get up. That's pretty much all the time.  It goes on to say we are to write them on the doorposts of our houses…maybe so we see them all the time.  It doesn't say "the school should", or "the church is responsible for ". It says "YOU shall teach them DILIGENTLY to your sons (and daughters)".  That's pretty clear.  Nowhere to get around anything in that word from God Himself.

As the school year begins let's remember that teaching doesn't only belong at school. It needs to begin at home…with parents who love and submit to a Holy God.

A few truths every student needs to know:

The Bible is true. Every single word.  Every single God-Breathed Word. Don't neglect it. It is your life.

Believe that what God says about you is the truth.

*Go to church. Every time something is going on.  It's the coming together of believers with one heart and one mind on God that you can find the harmony of the fellowship.  Don't neglect it.

*Serve other people. Not just your friends.  People are hurting and have needs, whether it's physical or emotional.  Keep your eyes open to see where God is working.

*Be the friend that perhaps someone is longing for, but doesn't have.  You will never regret showing someone God's grace when it's most needed.  Don't discount God using you in another persons life.

*Tell people about Jesus. He's worth it.  Let your life show Who He is.  Be the one who leads others to the altar of grace.

*Go out of the country on a mission trip. You can do missions at home….and home needs it, but going out of our edge of the world will open your eyes wide to see just how BIG and MIGHTY God works in other places.  Ask God to give you eyes for the world.  I promise, it will change your entire outlook.
(Some parents fear sending their child out of the country….we did it. And we have never regretted one trip they took.)

So, as students started school today and parents have to adjust to a new way of life at home, remember that every year is putting them one foot out the door.

It's a good thing. There will be parent tears…yes. There will be questions asking if it is the right thing…yes.  There will be many wondering "what happens now?"….yes.   That's ok.  You will live through it.     And your children will love you... even from afar.  Bless.

School has its place, but more important than SAT or ACT scores, more important than full-ride scholarships, there is teaching to be done by parents that exceeds all the combined teaching that a school can give.

Teach them to love God with all their hearts, soul, mind and strength.  Teach them that God will never leave them. Teach them that what is found in the infallible Word will lead to all truth in whatever they come against.  Teach them that God's love is better than all the education in the world.

And when it happens…and it will…that they have both feet out the door, you will never regret the time and effort you spent teaching and guiding them to the abundant grace that God gives us.

It's not an easy task, but one well worth it.

7---Check In

Third week in 7 and I am finding out who I am when it comes to this fasting situation.  And it's not pretty.

Week 1---7 foods.  Read previous post.

Week 2---Get rid of 210 items out of my house. With regret, or shame I moved out well over 210 items.   Triple that and you will get my drift.  Where did most of this stuff come from? Oh…I bought it.
And I still have a stack of more items getting ready to go.

Week 3---7 clothes for seven days.  7 ITEMS. Not 7 outfits. Not 7 choices. Not 7 of each type of clothing. 7…only.  I had to think carefully.  As we began and a couple of days had passed, I realized that my choices were not conducive to my daily routines.

On Sunday, I dressed for church in my specified items and realized I couldn't put on any JEWELRY! I always wear these items. I never go out without something in this genre on. I felt naked and ashamed. Surely people would wonder what was wrong with me. Something was not right.  Then it happened, just as I feared. One that I love, one that I trust with advice, one that I can always count on said, "I'm sorry, but without jewelry on, you just look sick."  Thanks. So much.  It also added to my confounded discomfort when a 6 yr. old asked me where my bracelets and earrings were that evening.  Go figure.

 Then on day four, my PP t-shirt, which I love was chewed on by the dog..while I had it on.  Now I'm stuck with six items and a t-shirt that has a hole in the sleeve.  I have three days left and hopefully I won't lose any more options. Did I mention I only have seven to choose from?

Tomorrow I will wear the same clothes to school that I have been wearing for five days.  Heaven help me, Friday is coming.

Nearing the close of this week's study, I pray God will continue to reveal those areas of pride and selfishness that seem to feel right at home in me.  God is more interested in what is being uncovered in my heart than what is covering up the outside of this leaky vessel.

More of You, God and less of my self-centered, clothes loving heart.