Mixing Ideas

My grandson has been baking and cooking with me ever since he was old enough to stand on a chair and place frozen break-apart cookies on a cookie sheet.  We’ve stirred spaghetti sauce together and spilled chocolate chips from the bag on purpose so we could eat them.

This Christmas he is seven and baking Christmas cookies was more of an adventure.  He measured and poured and gingerly turned the mixer to the numbers I told him.  It was a cooperative and memorable Saturday afternoon.  I had left the butter out for a while to come to room temperature and I told him he could unwrap it and put it in the bowl.  “Don’t I need to cut it up, Gramma Jo?”  I assured him that it would blend without a problem.  Several minutes later as I continued to scrape and mix, he wondered what was the holdup.  I explained that I was having a little trouble getting the butter to mix in.  With the wisdom of an experienced chef, he said, “I told you we should have cut it up, Gramma.”

His mother and I chuckled over the story later.  I said they must have covered this question while baking cookies at home.  She assured me that they hadn’t, but that he is an intuitive kid and probably just reasoned it out.  I smirked.  I’ve been cooking for forty years; he’s a seven-year-old.  

I’ve got my ideas set in a lot of areas.  My faith is most important to me.  And I think I have it all figured out.  I’m so sure of it that I begin to feel proud, willing to tell anybody who wants (or doesn’t want) to listen how this world works.  Then someone older, or younger, a new Christian or one whose eyes have recently opened to the joys of the Word will make a statement that feels funny.  It doesn’t quite fit in with all the little blocks and pieces I’ve worked out for myself.  I have to tiptoe up to the creaky door of my mind and force it back open.  God wants me to be as excited about learning as I was when I started this journey.  He wants me to be willing to change my habits and continue to grow.  Today I baked cookies again.  I want you to know, I cut up the butter.

Proverbs 11:2, 1:5
When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom…let the wise listen and add to their learning, and let the discerning get guidance.

You're Not the Boss of Me

The two’s bring it on.  We learn to stand on our own two feet, push our boundaries a bit, and handle things we used to rely on others for.  We begin to get the idea of independence and it feels good!

The phrase follows soon after – “You’re not the boss of me!” – particularly if we have older siblings.  As we grow older, and braver, we get bold enough to use it on our parents, probably only once depending on the parents we have.

Isn’t it an idea, though, that we struggle with from that time on?  Teachers – oh how we wish we could use it with them!  Professors – we argue with them, but we know when to back off.  Spouses – where do you think the rebellion against submission comes from?  Bosses – that dream of walking in and quitting on the spot comes from those first thoughts as a toddler.

But consider this – what if that boss loved you more than you could imagine; wanted only the best for you; was in control of and allowed or caused every single thing that happened to you for your good; knew you better than you know yourself; had untold gifts to shower on you; and had a plan worked out for your life that would astound you if you knew it?  How would you feel about him?

Our sovereign God is all of this and more and he adores us!  And still we disobey, rebel, and shake our fist and yell, “You’re not the boss of me!”  Oh yes, He is.  And He is good and powerful and loving.  He is the perfect boss.  He’s in control anyway, but I think I’m going to try this obedience thing a little more strenuously.

Ephesians 6:5-7; 1 John 3:21-24

Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but like slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men…Dear friends, if our hearts do not condemn us, we have confidence before God and receive from Him anything we ask, because we obey His commands and do what pleases Him. And this is His command: to believe the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as He commanded us. Those who obey His commands live in Him, and He in them. And this is how we know that He lives in us: We know it by the Spirit He gave us.

My Father's Daughter

This afternoon I considered that the God I pray to today is the same as the One I prayed to when I was a little girl.  Not earth-shaking, right?  I’m pretty sure you probably knew that.  You learned the concept of “I AM” a while ago.  But doesn’t something dawn afresh every once in a while and make you reconsider what you thought you knew?

From the time I was a very little girl I had a relationship with my Abba Father.  When I prayed, it was not “Dear God” or “Dear Lord”, but “Dear Heavenly Father.”  I can remember lying in my bed when I was very young – after I had been on my knees and said my prayers in the presence of my Mom – and talking, still talking to my Heavenly Father.  (It was not until I was a much more mature Christian that I had that very personal relationship with Jesus.)  And I can remember praying the same way as a teen in high school, in college and throughout my adult life.  

Today, I am trying to get my arms around all the changes that I went through and all the ones that He did not.  In “Crazy Love” Francis Chan discusses the attribute of God that is the one I find most comforting – He is unchanging, faithful, and eternal.  (Psalm 102:12, 27) “But you, O LORD, sit enthroned forever; your renown endures through all generations. But you remain the same, and your years will never end.”

I got sick a bit ago and slept a great deal.  I also got distracted by life.  I found that I had so many things I wanted to do that I needed to cut back on something.  So, as I often do, I did the bare minimum in my prayer life and time in the Word.  Within the last week I have changed my habits back to serious prayer and Bible study.

And, once again as I often do, I waited for the good and warm, cozy feelings from God.  I was doing all the right stuff.  Where was the pay-off?  And then last night, as I talked to Him right before drifting off to sleep, I reminded myself that He was the same and that I rely way too much on my feelings.  I would continue to do what I tell everyone else to do – trust that He is Who He is and that He is there, even when I can’t feel Him.

Today Steve was playing golf and asked if I would like to ride along.  I sometimes say no because I think I need to be doing more “serious stuff.”  Today something told me to get out and enjoy life a bit.  

Before we went to the course, we drove down by the lake to see if there were any gators.  Apparently we surprised one because there was a huge splash in front of the cart and then we saw him gliding across the lake.  Then Steve pointed and there stood a great blue heron on the dock, just beautiful.  I began to relax and enjoy not just the warmth of the afternoon but also the warmth of God’s unchanging presence.  

When the thought of His unchanging faithfulness occurred to me, we were on the third hole; and Steve whispered, “Look!”  He stopped the cart and we both held our breaths as an eagle soared just overhead followed by an osprey.  Then the eagle circled and landed yards in front of our cart.  Sometimes I miss the feelings; but sometimes God just takes my breath away.