I have wandered through the Bible, and I have taken definite paths when searching.  I have been on listening journeys, and asking tours when I traversed the Holy pages.  There are times I read in the middle of crowds, or alone in my bed.  Often it speaks a personal word to me, just for me.

Proverbs 30:5 (NIV) “Every word of God is flawless; He is a shield to those who take refuge in Him.”

Between “time worn” leather covers and new shiny paper-backs, I have been led to precious life giving manna that nourishes my soul. Its wisdom is my morning-starter, my day-keeper, and my peace at night.

(Psalm 23:1) (King James Version) “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want…”

Within these pages I have gained a deeper knowledge of my holy and righteous Father God, my forgiving Savior Jesus, and the Holy Spirit who is as breath to me, the three in one glorious God-head!

(Luke 3:21-22) J.B. Phillips “Jesus was praying after his own baptism, Heaven opened and the  Holy Spirit came down upon him in the bodily form of a dove. Then there came a voice from Heaven, saying, “You are my dearly-loved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

Delving in to the scriptures causes a yearning for a deeper understanding of all things spiritual and can bring revelation ~ sometime in small doses ~ such as gaining understanding of the term “soul”: it being the vessel or the binder that holds together the body and the spirit within a person.

Genesis 2:7 (The Message) God formed Man out of dirt from the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life. The Man came alive ~ a living soul! 

As a Christian, reading my bible helps me understand my spirit has been filled by His spirit and my body has yielded to His Lordship, my soul is now unified with God and I can reflect Him in my nature.

1 Corinthians 2:10-12 (CEV) “God’s spirit shows you everything. His spirit finds out everything, even what is in the deep mind of God. You are the only one who knows what is in your own mind, and God’s spirit is the only one who knows what is in God’s mind.  But God has given us his Spirit.  That is why we don’t think the same way as the people of this world think.” These verses close with another truth revealed; “That’s also why we can recognize the blessings that God has given us.”*

Reading my Bible is an ongoing treasure hunt; many gems are in the open and others have to be unearthed.  I am never disappointed in my “findings”; I am gleaning more riches than I could ever dream.  Digging is addictive; the deeper you get the harder you dig.  It has been proved true “the richer you become the more wealth you want.”

Colossians 2:3 (New Century Version) “In him all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge are safely kept.”

So, join me on this life~long reading adventure!  You will find the way to joy unspeakable, love beyond measure, understanding, mystery,  trust, and faith.  You will learn of a God who sustains, a savior who intercedes, and a Spirit who is holy, who fills and fulfills.  Walk the scripture path of discovery and receive sure and true guidance for your day and heaven for your eternity.  Enjoy!

Psalm 119:105 (New Living Translation) Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.

*emphasis mine

]]> http://christianwomenonline.net/2012/02/17/findings%e2%80%a6-by-rhea-the-addictive-word/feed/ 1 http://christianwomenonline.net/2012/01/29/findings-by-rhea-decisions-decisions/ http://christianwomenonline.net/2012/01/29/findings-by-rhea-decisions-decisions/#comments Sun, 29 Jan 2012 05:05:17 +0000 Rhea B. Riddle http://christianwomenonline.net/?p=4707

The title of my new venture (this series) is “Findings.”  I thought it would be appropriate to start by mentioning how I arrived at that particular word to use as the series name, it did involve a bit of soul searching.

I thought of my life and the paths I have taken; the good influences I absorbed from family, friends, and most generously from a gracious God, through His scripture and any other means He chose to use.  His exquisite touch of mercy and grace has blessed my life since the time His precious Spirit ministered to my —feisty little-girl— spirit and I became aware of my need, then I accepted Jesus into my life by faith, and He became my Savior instantaneously.  Even as He became my Lord, He waited patiently through the time  it took for me to gain a full understanding of all that meant; in fact, I am still learning and letting go of things I didn’t even realize were held hidden in me!

My travels with Him through a long life-time are the foundations for this series. Has it always been a smooth and an easy ride?  No, but He has always been with me, and it certainly has been interesting, as you will see.  So, you understand I had a plethora of ideas for the title, but when it was the time to make up my mind the final choice came to me on its own.  I had searched scripture; bible studies, and rhyming words, nothing; I could not decide.  Some were too cute, some too lofty, some, oh well…  When I quit searching and became busy with the crafting I needed to do, the word just popped into my thoughts, including the reason I needed to use it.  It is not an earth shaking important thing, but I think it was a God thing, a gentle blessing for me, to ease my mind and perhaps to give you insight concerning my writings.

So, here you go.

The word “Findings” has a three-fold (a trinity of) meaning to me.
1. Findings; a term or word that describes the small, odd pieces that are used in jewelry crafting to embellish or unite the main features to the whole design. (“Small things” in one’s physical life or spirit are important to the whole person.)
2. Findings; it connotes precious truths discovered in Christ, throughout scripture, and along life’s pathways. (“Treasures” God strews along our way.)
3. Findings; a judicial term, such as “the result of an inquiry.” (“seeking” that leads to discovery and wise decisions.)

So, that’s it, “Findings” and the thoughts behind the decision to use it.

Here is a taste of the things we may explore together:

“My Mother’s Wisdom”
I find it refreshing that as my life continues I am still discovering my Mother’s wisdom, though she has been in heaven many years now.  As her oldest and most unruly child I was the first one to give her reason to practice all of her little biblical idioms.  As time went on, I realized they were meant to give me the desire for obedience and repentance before she sent me to the yard to search for a switch of a certain length and strength.  Of course by the time I had visited with my neighbors and turned handsprings all around the block then finally returned to the house with a puny stick her pressure had been relieved, (by my absence?) and she would put it on top of the refrigerator for later.  When later came (always did) it was gone ~ “here we go again!”

The special delight her long ago words give me ( though they were lovingly stern at the time) are always a pleasant surprise, and in the fact I am still finding them often in scripture.   As I read along I find them everywhere.  Sometimes, it takes a second reading, but there they are.  Yesterday, I found two while reading in Ecclesiastes 10:20.   At times when exercising my red-headed temperament, she would warn me, “Be careful the walls have ears,” and “Remember a little bird will tell on you!”  Usually, either of those would get my attention and divert me from the pressing problem of the moment, perhaps not for the reason she hoped.  My overactive imagination would kick in and visuals would come to life around me.  Walls with ears, birds flying fast and hard to tell on me…

A spanking was a “fait accompli” on some occasions and to cover her tracks, Mother used Proverbs 13:24 “Spare the rod and spoil the child!”  I promise you I never felt spoiled; I just went to get another switch.  Yes, even this verse brings a smile for I used it plenty of times, with a surprising small pleasure.

In fact, though I didn’t accept or comprehend the “correction” verses as intended, as a child, they did make an impression (in many ways) on me for I still remember and recognize and welcome the “Findings” when I stumble upon them.  My Mother was so wise she knew through the years I would read them over and over again.

Yes, Mom, next to Holy Scripture you have the last word, and I finally understand!

The date?  December 7th, 2011.  The arena?   A living room, toy-strewn and holiday-festive.

In one corner, we have a brand-new nine foot, pre-lit, fully decorated Christmas tree.  Weakness?  Bulbs burning hot and entire strands going kaput overnight.

In the other corner, straight out of Christmas-planning-frenzy, a five foot four inch mother of three with a schedule to keep and a nasty, energy-sucking cold.  Weakness?  Two days without a shower and a Pebbles Flintstone hair-do (without both the bone accessory and the adorability).

Oh, yes.  I was in this arena to win the day, and victory required a perfect tree that the kids would forever and ever remember and cherish (a triumph that should be gained before 3:15 when the boys must be picked up from school).

One phone call in and I was well on my way.  After all, I didn’t have the receipt from last year’s tree purchase and the store would still allow me an exchange ~ all I had to do was bring in the old tree with its box and the new one would be waiting.

I looked at the clock.  I had an hour and a half until Baby Ballerina class.  Could I un-decorate the tree, take it apart, put it into the car, take a shower (please, oh please, manage time for the shower!), dress Kailey for ballet and get her there on time?  I checked in with the Christmas-planning-frenzy in my head and it assured me that, yes, it could be done.  And, more importantly, it MUST be done so that the rest of our well-laid plans could be executed in proper order.

So I dragged in the ladder from outside and began frantically pulling ornaments from the branches, unplugging the connecting strands of lights, and wondering if my oldest son’s suggestion of using candles like in olden days was such a far-fetched plan, after all.  Record time for baring the tree of its decorations.  Next was the easy part.  Popping off the top section, pulling off the middle, and putting it all back into the box.

Except.

The top would not budge.  Would not wiggle.  Would not move.   It REFUSED to be taken from its spot.  It was like it knew that Christmas was NOT over and it was being fired from its job well before due time.  Point one for the tree.

I considered my options.  I could wait until that night or the next for my husband to help.  I could call my father-in-law and see if he’d mind lending a hand.  Or I could pull the entire nine feet of tree over onto its side and try pulling it apart that way.

Bingo!

Kailey watched, baffled, from the couch as I carefully knocked the tree over onto its side, pulling the section first from one end and then from the other.  My effort was to no avail.

“What are you doing, Mommy?” Kailey kept asking. “Why are you doing that?” “Because I have to,” I kept saying.  “I’m fixing the tree.” (In retrospect, it’s understandable that this answer confused her!)

Even with the tree on its side, I could not get the top removed.  So I figured I’d just leave it.  As long as I took apart the bottom and middle sections, it would all fit into the box.  Sort of, anyway.  Enough to get it back to the store.

I proceeded through another forty-five minutes of battle with that tree sprawled out in the living room.  I had so many scratches on my arms and legs that it looked like I’d been brawling with a wild cat.  Not one piece of that tree would cooperate.  I could not get it to come apart.

This time, I considered no options.  I was not giving up.  I would carry that tree in its nine feet of bristly splendor through the back door, down the steps, out of the yard and into the car.  It’s not like it was an actual tree.  Heavy-shmeavy.

How hard could it be? (Spoiler alert, spoken in quite the whiny voice: hard. Really, really, really hard!)

Anyway, I proceeded to become that woman in the neighborhood who has clearly lost a few marbles in Christmas-prep-land.  If you happened to have been looking out your window on a Wednesday morning and saw a pajama-clad girl dragging a giant Christmas tree through her back-door, well, that was me.  Sorry for the kicking of the tree.  I am not usually violent towards (fake or real) gifts of nature.  Also, sorry for the Pebbles-hair.

Nothing stopped me.  Not the tree getting stuck in the back door.  And then again on the porch steps.  I just kept climbing over the thing to push it, leaning back to smush in the branches, and scooting over to pull again.  Repeat, repeat, repeat.

Actually, I had a brilliant idea during the stuck moments.  If I could just get gravity to help me pull the tree down the porch steps, then I could have it land on the kids’ wagon!  I could roll it to the car!

Amazingly enough, the wagon actually helped.  The bottom two-thirds of the tree may have accumulated a new layer comprised of pine needles and leaves as I puttered towards the drive-way, but what could be more natural than all of that on a tree?

It took lots more time, much rearranging, and maybe a few tears before that tree was shoved into the back of the car, but it got there.  I even got the door to close.  I was sweating and I was bleeding, but I’d done it.  And I even had three minutes to spare for a shower (you’re relieved, aren’t you?).

After waiting/collapsing through Kailey’s dance class, I headed to the store for the great exchange.  I probably should’ve felt a bit more embarrassed about the state of the tree, but I was mostly just glad it was in the car.  I did, of course, sheepishly explain to the customer service attendant about the ‘bit’ of trouble I’d had taking it all apart.  As he followed me to the car, I suggested that he might need someone else to help bring the tree in.  He shrugged and reached into the car.  With a single, slight twist and a pull that wasn’t even with effort, the top of that tree came off.  Just like it was supposed to do.

My jaw, literally, dropped in shock.  And when he oh-so-casually picked the entire thing up like he was carrying a stray log, I could only shake my head in disbelief.  After all that frustration, all that effort, all that hard work I’d done ~ how could he so easily take up where I’d left off?

“No big deal,” he said. “I carry this kind of weight all the time.  It’s what I do.”

I watched him carry the tree inside, looked at my scratched up arms and smoldered a little in indignation.  But what was there to say?  He was just better equipped to handle that tree.  Taller.  Stronger.  Arms longer and more muscular than mine.

Funny.  It would have been just that easy for my husband, too.  The husband that would’ve helped, had I waited.  Had I asked for help.  Had I not been so insistent upon my schedule, my time-line, my ability to take care of the problem.  It was 11:15 am and I was exhausted.  Dragging such a big burden along in the dirt, layering it in more and more clutter, will do that to a girl.

It wasn’t until earlier today that I thought of the Christmas-tree debacle again.  I laughed at the ridiculous picture I must have made, red-nosed and all scratched up, trying to handle something so much bigger than I was.

And it occurred to me that this wasn’t the first time I’d attempted such a feat.  That tree wasn’t the only burden I was carrying on that warm December day.  In fact, I’d been trying to get a handle on a few issues in my life and I was frustrated that I couldn’t pin down the answers.  Big questions towered over me and I couldn’t find satisfaction until I pulled them down, dissected them, and packaged them neatly away.

But try as I might, cry as I most certainly did, pull and tug and wrestle as hard as I could… I could not over-come those issues.  They were just too big and I am not equipped to carry them.  I am not even near strong or wise enough.  In fact, the attempts leave me exhausted and crying outside in the yard.  Stuck beneath the weight of it all.

It was the store rep that helped me with that silly tree.  But it was stopping to hear the voice of the Savior and releasing my control to Him that calmed my frantic heart.

If you’re trying to tackle a problem in your own strength and on your own time-line, will you slow down for a moment and listen to what He’s whispering to your heart? “Cast your cares upon Me,” He says, “for I care for you… come to Me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (1 Peter 5:7 and Matthew 11:28)

Sometimes we just get so caught up in the moment… in the problem… that we stubbornly insist on figuring it all out.  Today.  Right now.  We wear ourselves out, making the problem even bigger in our own attempts to fix it, forgetting that the Savior is there all the while, wanting to relieve us from the strain and fear of our burden.  Loving us.  Waiting for us to trust Him, His timing and His ways.

He is Able, the One who was there when the heavens were rolled out and keeps the earth in orbit.  He is bigger than we can even imagine, able to do so much more than we could even think to ask.

We are unable to save ourselves, and so He carried the cross to Calvary, and with it our sins, our sickness, our every circumstance.  He made the way for us, willing to bear our pain.  And when we ask Him to help us, He will pick up our burden and replace it with His yoke, which is grace sufficient and strength that exceeds our deepest weakness.

May we trust Him with everything within us throughout this new year, knowing that He will be faithful.

And, friends, if you find that my tree is still up in mid-July, please don’t hold it against me.  Let’s be frank ~ this fight definitely went to the tree and I am in no way looking for a rematch… I’ll be waiting for help this go ’round, no matter how long I have to wait for it!

The Lord has been so gracious to me this long bitter winter with many days of bright sunshine in spite of the snowy freezing times. This helps my moods, my appetite, and I hope my sanity, because I am beginning to talk to inanimate objects!

YOU ARROGANT SNOWFLAKE

I watched you; I think you knew it. You, the largest flake I had seen in this ever-lasting coldest of seasons, floating down in your graceful though arrogant way. In a show-off manner, you fell in an artful spin due to a puff of the frisky bitter wind. Glistening like a starlet dancing in a spotlight you shone brilliantly in the beam of the weak winter sun.

Your cold, icy beauty caught my attention; I was mesmerized by your dizzying, dancing descent as you spiraled toward the terra-cotta pot squatting on my forlorn frozen deck. Due to the playfulness of a neighbors pup, the earlier arriving flakes were knocked off the clay rim of the vessel. It was filled with inert dirt and a layer of your ancestors who were just hanging around waiting for company to arrive. All was bared for you to indulge in your solo performance and you took to the stage and preened like a pro, in your proud way.

I saw the twinkle you cast contemptuously toward me, as you shivered to a stop; settling your many sided splendor precariously on the edge. How daring was your choice; you think you can do what you want; you are such a clinging substance. The mocking attitude you and your ilk display gives me chill bumps.

Ah, here comes the sky full of your followers in a hurry to enshroud you with their presence. You, the first, are fast becoming the forgotten, fading into a whiteout. You just had to be the largest flake, now you are the bottom of the pile. The sad thing is you are still “here today-here tomorrow” in one way or another.

*******

Winter continues; I must think of other things, for all of our sakes!

Mother is the most beautiful word in the English language, says a survey conducted by the British Council. According to the survey’s results, the ten most beautiful words are:

Mother
Passion
Smile
Love
Eternity
Fantastic
Destiny
Freedom
Liberty
Tranquillity

Lovely words, all of them. But reading that got me to thinking: what are a mother’s favorite words? Hmmmm…..how about sleep? Yep, that would probably be it—especially if the word is preceded by the adjective uninterrupted. Ah, bliss!

A mom’s second most-beloved word or phrase? It just might be, “I’ll change his diaper, honey,” or the acknowledgement (rarely received but always appreciated), “Wow, you sure did a lot today!”
Speaking of doing a lot, since this month makes even the most organized mommy’s head spin, the best present I could receive as a mom would be these words: “Let’s not do Christmas cards this year.” Talk about a gift!

Here are a few other phrases that get a mom’s heart racing (gals, if you’re feeling really brave and sneaky, print this out so you can slip it in your hubby’s sock drawer):

10. Let’s just cuddle tonight.
9.  Are those magic jeans? Your rear looks tiny in them.
8.  I have a floral delivery for you. Will you be home later?
7.  Mom, you watch [insert favorite television show here]. I’ll vacuum.
6.  Do you like your massage gentle or firm?
5.  Your child is so well-adjusted/polite/neat/smart/normal.
4.  Thanks for offering, but all our volunteer positions are suddenly filled.
3.  I’ll take carpool duty today.
2.  Here’s breakfast in bed, sweetie. And no, the kids didn’t make it—I did!

There are also tons of Biblical phrases that I find especially beautiful. Here are a few on my personal top-ten list: “He gives sleep to those He loves”; “He gently leads those who have young” (I need to follow someone other than my oldest, who’s likely to lead me right off the side of a cliff); “Peace I give you” (this one comforts me when my hubby is working late, my toddler won’t quit crying, and my fifth grader won’t stay in bed); and “With God all things are possible” (for when the baby’s been up all night and I have a presentation to give at ten a.m.).

Thinking about those words—written long ago, but oh-so-relevant today—helps me to calm down in the midst of the chaos that is motherhood.

You know what also helps me to calm down? When my husband says the phrase that’s #1 with moms everywhere:

        1.   Let’s go out to eat tonight!

©2008, Dena Dyer