Be A Builder Upper

Year 4-Day 67: Today, I am grateful we can choose to be builder uppers.

"She builds others up because she knows what it is like to be torn down."

Years ago, on Sunday morning, I offered the children song requests. I will never forget the sweet, blonde and blue eyed boy named Andy who wanted to sing "Bob the Builder". This was not in my song book...and I am not great playing by ear...but we tried.  Do you remember it?

"Bob and the gang have so much fun
Working together, they get the job done

Bob the builder
Can we fix it?
Bob the builder
Yes, we can!"

Usually- I would redirect to one of our children's, but his heart was so determined and then I though about the great message of working together. In his child's heart, it was a perfect Sunday school song. So...I let the little child lead us.  

We spend our days making choices about building others up or tearing them down.  Now, building on a foundation false praise is unwise and it will crumble over time. There is a kind of critiquing that builds others up...when seasoned with love. Everyone has gifts and strengths...even if they do not use them with good choices. 

We all have room for improvement but negative voices leave terrible scars on our souls. How we use our words on others can build them up or tear them down.  How can we direct with encouragement. 

Scripting is popular because it gives us a place to start. 

"Great job!  The only thing separating you from the pros is...."

"Your work reflects your efforts. Time and practice is going to make you unstoppable."

"Your work ethic is impressive. Do not be discouraged by what you see as imperfect. This is good and will get better with your continued efforts."

"I admire your energy. As you build your organizational skills, you will be able to accomplish so much more."

"I love your tenacity. (Always build vocabulary when you can.) This was hard and you pressed on and didn't quit. That shows character."

"Do not be discouraged that it isn't your best work. Tell me what you have learned. To master any art or craft takes time and tons of practice." 

A few years back, I had a sweet girl cross my path who has limited resources where she was surrounded by others with abundance.  She was only in our community for a short time, but I think of her often. She was able to take a wardrobe I am fairly sure was at least partially from garage sales and consignment shops and turn it into her own kind of fabulous.  She carried it off with confidence and grace beyond her years. She had a vision... and someone building her up. I look for her to author a book or design clothes someday.May God place a special blessing on the step-parents who forget about the "step" and just love a child in their care. Building others up can have a lasting impact on a life.

In Nehemiah 2:17-18 - Nehemiah has answered God's call to rebuild the wall around Jerusalem. The king has offered to support him and the work. Nehemiah went from being the important confidante and "cup bearer to the king"...  to "general construction manager" for a people who didn't really want to do the work to build the wall. He took a demotion and people didn't always like or respect his calling.  

Then I said to them, “You see the trouble we are in, how Jerusalem lies in ruins with its gates burned. Come, let us build the wall of Jerusalem, that we may no longer suffer derision.” And I told them of the hand of my God that had been upon me for good, and also of the words that the king had spoken to me. And they said, “Let us rise up and build.” So they strengthened their hands for the good work.  

Then in Nehemiah 6:3...my favorite...he refused to be discouraged.  He let the Lord be his ultimate encourager and he encouraged others. Some wanted to murder him, mostly out of jealousy. He did not lose focus."And I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?” He pressed on and kept building up. It saved his life...literally.

We never know the life that may be impacted by a small effort to build up another soul.

Today, I am grateful we can choose to be builder uppers.

Designed for Relationship

Year 4-Day 66: Today, I am grateful we were designed for relationships.

We were. First with God and then with other people. 

After every day of creation, "And God saw that it was good." is repeated. Then he created man. Man was His masterpiece.Man was uniquely given God's image...His soul breath...his creative spirit...His ability to choose...and the man's freedom to refuse.  Yes, God made man, gave him the job of naming ...and then observed. 

Genesis 2:19-20 "Now out of the ground the Lord God had formed every beast of the field and every bird of the heavens and brought them to the man to see what he would call them. And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all livestock and to the birds of the heavens and to every beast of the field. But for Adam there was not found a helper fit for him."

God brought the animals to man for the naming.  Remember fretting over naming each child or even a pet? Imagine the responsibility of all living creatures.  Responsibility and work are so much better when shared. We need good and meaningful work...but we need more. We need each other. 

Note...God did not offer suggestions in the naming.  "Whatever man called the living creature, that was its name".  Do you think God cringed?  Have you ever let children name a pet?  Imagine God stepping back and watch His creation choosing names. This one man made in His image...creating names for all living creatures. It kept him busy...until the work was done. 

Then, God saw that it was not good for man to be alone. He saw the need for companionship and filled it.  

Genesis 2:18 "Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” 

Genesis 2:21-23 So the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and while he slept took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the Lord God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said,

“This at last is bone of my bones
    and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called Woman,
    because she was taken out of Man.

I love this particular part of the passage- "I will make him a helper fit for him.” 

I had to look closer at the "fit". What does that mean?  The Hebrew word, neged, sounds a little like the English word "naked", if you make the "K" into a hard "G" sound (according to the pronunciation audio in the Hebrew Lexicon). 

Neged: a front, i.e. part opposite; specifically a counterpart, or mate;

A front has a back. Part opposite; part the same. Designed to fit together. 

A mate relieves the loneliness and helps us along the way. 

Relationships do get complicated. Family, marriage, friends, church, neighbors and even co-workers make up our world. Some days are good...others are a challenge. Why? We are all miraculously different. Those differences color our world with beauty...and drive us mad at other times. 

I find it really interesting that God...the master and creator of the universe...let man name all living creatures. He didn't step in with suggestions.  He took a deep breath and approved man's best efforts. He modeled some pretty big relationship stuff in that one verse. 

"And whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name."

Relationship first. And, names are pretty important, but God let him name every one. God's approval of each name must have been exhilarating for Adam. When God created woman...He did not create her for "Adam improvement". He created her to "fit". 

I wonder if he let her name the first salad without suggestions for improvement? 

We were designed for relationship.  First with God...then with others.  He modeled some really good stuff in the time before Eve even arrived on the scene.  Someone once said, the "Spirit of Correctiveness" is NOT a fruit of the spirit.  I must confess...I struggle with that one. So, I frequently look at Galatians 5:22-23:

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

Life is a journey. This quote embodies the joy in relationships. 

"You'll need coffee shops,
and sunsets and roadtrips,
airplanes and passports, 
and new songs and old songs, 
and more than anything else
You will need other people. 
And you will need to be that
other person to someone else. 
A living, breathing, screaming
Invitation to believe 
in better things. 
-Jamie Tworkowski

Today, I am grateful we were designed for relationships.

Dragons

Year 4-Day 65: Today...I am grateful for dragons. 

Yes, dragons. I love this Mary Oliver quote: 

"I want to think again of dangerous and noble things. I want to be light and frolicsome. I want to be improbable and beautiful and afraid of nothing, as though I had wings."

When our firstborn son was little, he would lay and chatter before bedtime. How precious were those moments! He would say, "Let's talk about dangerous thing." And we would. 

I think the conversations were inspired by "Safety First" from Disney's Baby Mickey series, but it offered opportunities to prepare him for some life obstacles and dangers to avoid. At least...as much as you can discuss with a child of three or four years. He was either gathering safety tips... or imagining the adventures he could find if he threw caution to the wind. 

Sometimes, we think about danger to keep us safe.  Other times, it makes us brave. 

This quote evokes..for me...the image of riding a dragon. Not an easy feat. First you have to find a dragon, befriend it, train it and then find the courage to take flight when it offers a ride. Maybe, it made me think of the movie "How to Train Your Dragon". 

We never outgrow the need for a sprinkle of whimsy in our souls. We are never too old to try something new.  We are never too mature to delight in the magnificence of a dragon. 

Dangerous. Powerful. Improbable. Beautiful. Fearless. And perhaps...friend-worthy. Our second loved "Pete's Dragon" when he was little. His child's heart only saw the friend...not the foe.  

Why slay our dragons when we can train them, learn from them, fly with them and make them our friends? Fear fights...courage takes flight. What will we choose today? 

Now, evil must be fought. The Bible is clear that evil is present, real and relevant. 

Ephesians 6:11-13 is powerful and a we have been studying it in our Sunday School class. 

 "Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.  For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.  Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm."

And then, I think about Jesus who came to be with us... and is with us... through His Holy Spirit. There is encouragement in Colossians 1:15-17:

"He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.  For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.  And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together."

We must determine what is evil and dangerous...or if fear comes from lack or relationship and understanding. Having never met a dragon, I imagine there are good and evil...just like people. It boils down to who we make our Master and our King. 

In the "fight or flight" moments...in the scary spots of life...He is our courage, our strength, our discernment and our guide. "He holds all things together". He is our courage, strength and hope. We are not alone when we take flight. 

He holds us in the palm of his hand. His plans for us are for hope and a future. 

Today...I am grateful for dragons. 

Focus

Year 4-Day 64: Today, I am grateful for the ability to adjust my focus! 

Vision continues to be my one little word to consider with focus this year.  This image brought me right back to that decision. Focus is what clouds or clears our vision. 

Where do I place my focus? 

Our power of choice, to act outside of what human nature would dictate, is what make humans God's masterpiece. We are His amazing act of courage... and love... when he breathed into us His breathe and allowed us to choose or reject Him.  We get to choose our focus.  

This reality...combined with the constant reminder to love Him and love each as "the main thing"... seems to give me "something to work on for a lifetime. 

Focus on the good.  

1 Timothy 4:4-5 states: "For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer." 

His creation is good. How we chose to use it is not always good.  Note the importance of being grateful. Gratitude changes things. "God is good." Our choices are not always good.  Focus matters. 

This articulate scripture from Hebrews is full of hope and vision. Let's pull it into focus today. 

Hebrews 12:1-2 - "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."

We can...in Him...take this day.  

Looking to Jesus...who endured the cross...in our place. Powerful.  

We can imagine the faces on the "cloud of witnesses" who have run the race before us. Moses...Daniel and "the boys"... Esther... Ruth... Joseph... David... Peter... Paul... Mary... Martha... Lazarus... and so many more. Focus and be encouraged. 

When Crabby Gabby crosses our path...focus.
When Needy Nelly needs a little more...focus.
When Whiney Willie invites us to jump on the complain train...focus.
When the clock seems to tick too slow...focus.

Oh boy...that thought woke up my Earworm and he is singing "Be Thou My Vision". It moves my soul like few other hymns. I will let Glad help him at their A capella best!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojqbN3yjOWs

Today, I am grateful for the ability to adjust my focus! 

No Passport Needed

Year 4-Day 63: Today, I am grateful I can take a trip without leaving home...no passport needed. 

Dr. Seuss wrote the book "Oh The Places You'll Go".  It is a favorite of mine.  It is full of truth, hope and possibilities.  This image today reminded me that with a book in hand, we can take flight.  We can go back in time...or move forward to the future.  Wherever our heart desires...we can go. 

Today, I am not simply grateful for books...that will be a different day and is on the "once a year list". I am grateful for the adventure they provide. Our souls cry out for new views, new experiences and new adventures. Books provide escape. 

I am grateful for the lessons beyond the story line. Culture, era in time, life's trials, faith, governments and relationships and other factors make each of human a unique product of their experiences. When we read...we not only can travel without a passport...we can get a glimpse into the hearts of those we find different, strange or confusing. 

H. Jackson Brown, Jr. has a quote that I found in one of my quote book collections:

“Remember that everyone you meet is afraid of something, loves something and has lost something.” 

Everyone you meet has a story.  For most people, they have a chapter or two in their life story that would break your heart. Be kind. Try to offer grace and understand that their attitude, mean spirit or lack of consideration for others may have pain at the root. 

Difficult people come from a different place...a different "culture" at home...and struggle to fit in with others. So, they bully, seethe mean and attempt to make everyone around them as miserable as they feel. 

I find books can be a passport to understanding. Now, that does not mean they provide all the answers...but they can help me see with different eyes.

Of course...the book that is the exception, is my Bible. It clears my vision like no other. It transports me back to walk with Moses, to cry and sing with David, to fail like Peter and to see the future with John (Flash forward to glimpse heaven.) It is full of the history of God's people and the future for those who reject him as well as those who believe. It, too, helps me understand the world and gives such great instruction.  

Hebrews 4:12  "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." 

His word is more than a passport to another place in time...it holds all the answers for navigating this world and this life. It is a lamp to our feet and a light when the path grows dark. It is full of hope, adventure, wisdom and even sheds light on the future. 

Today, I am grateful I can take a trip without leaving home...no passport needed. 

Balance

Year 4-Day 62:  Today, I am grateful for balance.

This made me giggle. I almost choose to be grateful for sweatpants...as they are perfect for the gym and for cupcake days. 

Balance. It is fascinating and not easy to achieve in a  world that tends to measure by success by excess.  Fast food is one of the biggest temptations of our time. A trip to Hardee's (A burger spot for my friends abroad...think McDonald's with a charcoal flair to the burger) in the 1970's was a rare treat. At our house, not even once a week. More like once a month. My Hanson cousins tell of splitting burgers at Hardees when they were little...and the thrill of graduating to your own burger.It was a simpler time.  

We ate at home. We ate from the garden, the freezer and the pantry. We ate leftovers (we still do). We made do with what we had, even if it was not what we really craved or wanted.  How different from today... and I am not old... but such reflections make me feel that way. Of course...the closest fast food was about 15 miles away back then. Now...there is a Subway on every corner, or so it seems. 

Balance is desirable. It is no easy. The balance beam in gymnastics is the event that intrigues me the most.  It is not my favorite event, but I watch it with wonder.  The path is so narrow and straight.  The feats they perform seem impossible to me. Some days, the stairs are a challenge...let alone jumping, dancing and flipping on a wooden beam that is 16 ft long and 4 inches wide. It is a lesson in focus, discipline, practice and falling off at times.  

Balance takes practice and intentional decisions.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20  "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, For you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body."

Balance in diet. Balance in exercise. Both are a daily struggle. Obsessing and overdoing either can be as emotionally unhealthy as neglecting them physically.  How do we manage them.  

I was not born naturally thin. I have lived a fair portion of my life hungry. That portion has not been in the past 10 years. A physical impairment limits what I can do for exercise. Walking is best, but I neglect it. I need to grow improve my balance. 

I was just talking with a friend about this scripture:

Romans 12:1-2  "I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect."

To present our bodies to the Lord as a living sacrifice in reasonable service and in spiritual worship...depending on the translation.  I memorized this as a child in the KJV. The meaning frustrated me, but I am sure I was driven by a prize or at least a sticker. Only as an adult have I come to understand that he calls us to balance in all things except... in how we love Him and love each other.  

It is true. Scripture directs us to seek balance, except, we are to love Him with all of our hearts, mind, soul and strength. And, we are to love our neighbors (all of them) with our resources, our time, our gifts and even with humility as we learn to turn the other check when it would be so much more fun to "win" or be "right". 

How will we offer our God our lives today? The offering of our bodies (our time, resources, decision making skills, intellect, strength of hand, kitchen skills, organizational skills, musical talents or our time in prayer.  He is our spiritual worship and our reasonable service. 

Now...a full length mirror can be scary, but it is a good reminder of where we stand at any given moment. The Lord...has x-ray vision...he knows our hearts. We can eat the salad... and hide the Little Debbie's. Some may have to accept we are not born to be thin, but balance is still important. 

Luke 16:15-"And he said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is exalted among men is an abomination in the sight of God."

Who do we live to please? More personal...who do I live to please?  Me or thee, my Lord? 

Ecclesiastes 7:18 (NIV ) has been a verse that has stuck.  I don't always live by it... but I know it is good instruction and strive for it. "Whoever fears God will avoid all extremes." We can, also, be so heavenly focused we are useless to the great commission. 

Well, the good news is...most of us have enough to work on to keep us busy until he calls us home...or he returns at the trumpet sound. At least, I do. 

It is a good day to think about balance...and exercise...and sweet treats...and sweatpants. It's a great day to think about trumpets, too. 

Today, I am grateful we can strive for balance as we present our lives in service and in worship, until He calls us home.

Pho-Vietnamese Soup

Year 4-Day 61:  Today, I am grateful for Pho - Vietnamese Soup.

There is nothing like soup for comfort.  I could, seriously, eat soup for dinner most nights and be perfectly content.  It is cozy cooking and makes the house smell like a home. 

Pho is a Vietnamese noodle soup I have not yet attempted at home, but I just might have to try.  If I am smart...I will enlist some kids to help...as they introduced us to the wonder of Pho. It is a noodle soup - often beef based, but can be chicken or shrimp too. 

Fresh, healthy food is a luxury I take for granted. Every day, I have a grocery store close at hand with safe food. Still, I cannot go buy Pho and bring it home.  I am not sure we can even purchase all the fresh ingredients without hitting the Asian market in Peoria. 

So...along with Pho...I am grateful for Than Linh's on Main Street in Peoria near Bradley University's campus town.  Saturday soup (famous in our crowd and served only on Saturday's until it is gone) or any of the Pho selections available daily. 

Chicken soup is good and good for the soul...but I recommend Pho! 

Genesis 9:3 - "Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you. And as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything."

Pho uses a bit of "everything". It is pretty, too. I throw in the basil, but my cilantro loving friends will love the add in cilantro. Squeeze the lime and leave it in the bottom of the soup bowl until you finish your soup. I don't know why...but the lime is important. It is a finishing touch. It is not the same without it. 

Today, I am grateful for Pho...and Than Linh's!