One who walked in truth (3 John v.4)

5/9/09

In memory
of
John Steven Hawkins
who loved God, his family and his country
April 1983-May 2009
Son of Steve and Claudia
Brother of Helen

Attending the funeral just a couple of hours after I heard of his death, I was greeted by his mother, who hugged me and told me that she had been praying for me. Now it’s my turn to pray and I ask my prayer warriors to join me in praying extra measures of mercy and grace from the God of all Comfort for this family who today buried their only son and brother.

5/7/09 Thursday’s journal jottings & 5/8/09 Friday's Find, "RHJ's poem"
The pluvial climate of middle and western Tennessee didn’t dampen our spirits at the farm but it did bring about great change in my snowball bushes at home. It looked like a bride and her groom must have walked/danced by way of my yard with all their friends and relatives trailing behind and showering them with both an abundance of petals and entire snowballs. The ground was covered---a beautiful sight to behold.
I wonder if it will be like that in heaven when The Bridegroom walks/dances with His Bride, the church. It will certainly be a beautiful sight to behold.
Rachel Huff Julian, daughter of Garry and Wynellen, penned these poetic words, while at Houston High School, that to me express the beauty of such a time.

……Suddenly,
My Groom rises from His throne,
And He breaks the loneliness, which I have always known…
His hands meet mine
As we begin to dance.
Oh what fulfillment,
Oh what romance…
Everything flows,
There is no pause in our dance.
The two become one
As I hold tightly to His hands…

…….I have never danced this way before.
I have never loved this way before.
I have never known Him like this before.
O Christ, it is You I adore…
We flow as one,
Dancing before the King.

Excerpt from The Chamber Room

Rest

5/7/09 Reflections from a Rocker # 3
Ah-h-h the quiet of my surroundings, not even a squeak in the rocker---just rain on the roof of the covered porch and flowing out of Doris’ impromptu fountain made out of the cows’ mineral bucket, so it doesn’t flood the porch. Such surroundings are so peaceful and restful and conducive to lingering. What rest for my soul!
I had learned from one of son, Buddy’s, earlier messages that there are several myths about rest:
• Rest is leisure time. Our family can wear ourselves out in pursuit of leisure.
• Rest arrives with more money. Once you get it all, then you can rest is a real myth.
• Rest comes with more options. Just think about where more TV stations, more timesaving appliances and more social networks on the internet have really gotten us.

I also learned that there are truths about biblical rest. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28) He didn’t say that he would change the address or the circumstances but that He would meet us at each juncture with His rest.
No doubt we live in a “waffle house world”---one that keeps us scattered, (fragmented) covered (with responsibilities, even worthwhile ones) and smothered (by distractions that keep the Lord at bay). In Little House on the Freeway, Tim Kimmel describes such a condition; so busy we can’t relax, seldom satisfied with what we have, worrying about things we cannot control and overworked and underappreciated. Where is the rest in this? Better question, “where is the Lord in this?” We are complete in Him. He is our rest.
Shalom (שָׁלוֹם) is a Hebrew word meaning peace, completeness, and welfare—I think that word gives us the right idea of His rest. It’s about Him not about our location or circumstances.
My first thought this morning was, it will be hard to leave this place of rest---a place of quiet inhabited by the Lord. Now I realize how silly that was; I can have His rest with me at all times as He inhabits my life.

"Walk-Walk"

5/5/09 Reflections from a Rocker # 2
“Walk-Walk” was Owen’s way of letting us know that he wanted down---limited language but we got the message. Larry sent instructions to my farm nurses to make sure I got to “walk-walk” each day as part of my rehab. I wonder if God wants us to put down other distractions and “walk-walk” with Him? Bet He does!
We have biblical references of men who walked with God---Abraham and Daniel come to mind. Even specific verses reveal “Noah walked with God.” “Enoch walked with God.”
Walking implies action---movement, progression, direction---usually intentional. (dancing terms to me) Walking can be just as much for spiritual exercise as physical exercise.
“Today is Tuesday and you know what that means.” At Houston High it means you can’t park in the parking lot after school because of band practice. For me, it means “teaching” day---just sharing some tidbit that I’ve learned with someone else. This morning it became an “Exercise in Ephesians” as I shared with my farm nurses the “sit, walk, stand” divisions of the book---just passing on what Nancy Binkley had taught me from Watchman Nee’s little 70 page book of the same name. Just as the book is divided into chapters, these chapters are divided into sections that teach us to sit before we walk. I made them “sit” along time in a crouch-like position until they felt burning in their quads. This was to remind them that they needed to “sit” at the feet of the Lord (for a long time) in order to know Him and to be ready to “walk” (Chapter 4 transition) worthy of the gospel. In chapter 5, one who has been sitting also “walks in love” and is able to “stand” against evil---there’s a long list. As the book ends in chapter 6, we are even given great instructions for the armor of God that will help us continue to “stand” against the enemy. End of lesson for the day but one we all need to remember. Spiritual exercise starts as we “sit” and enables us to “walk-walk” with Him---a worthy “walk” of His love as we “stand” for His truth>

Rocker Reflections

5/4/09 Reflections from a Rocker #1
Cacophony--what a great descriptor for a morning on a farm, dubbed Full Circle Ranch. Having left the bedroom door, that is off the screen porch, open throughout the night, I had great a.m. audio. Actually it was more like surround sound. Geese were honking, dogs barking, cows mooing (one seemed to be bellowing in pain) birds tweeting and there was a real fussing going on somewhere---not sure if it was birds or squirrels. Delightful farm music, not exactly “muzak.,” but delightful all the same. This is indeed a “day the Lord hath made” and I for one am “rejoicing in it.”
Wandering out to the porch alone, with Bible, Jesus Calling and a legal pad---somehow a laptop seemed like an anachronism, I took my seat on the big Cracker Barrel type rocker that over looked the horse pasture. The pasture, covered with buttercup weed and somewhat flooded from many days of soaking rains and Saturday night’s storm, gave real meaning to the term pastoral. There are six horses in my view, Most were brown (bays) but there was a splotchy spotted (paint or pinto) and one whitish one (palomino) and a red (roan)---Doris supplied the equine terms. What fun they were having in their morning frolic rearing up at one another and romping together---a real gamboling going on.
“I love you, Lord and I lift my voice, to worship you , O my soul, rejoice. Take joy, my king, in what You hear. May it be a sweet, sweet sound in Your ear.” Not even sure the words were right but God knew my heart’s song.
Then, the meditation began to flow naturally. It’s Monday---my day for meditating, Did you notice that the meditation followed worship? I just saw that. The verse that I am meditating on is, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee because He trusteth in Thee.” (from memory, probably King James Version --- somewhere in Isaiah ---my limited concordance in the back of my Bible showed only one citation from Isaiah-- 9:6, and that’s not it. It was too early to call Buddy or Crickett so ya’ll are on your own---but I do know it is Isaiah)
Here’s what else I know about meditation---meditation on God’s word.

• It’s a holy exercise/discipline, of sorts---a pondering of His word. Being surrounded by cows this morning illustrates it well. They chew their cud, regurgitate it and chew some more---getting all the sweetness and nutrients needed for good health.

• Meditation is not hurried. Holiness and hurry may be alliterative but hurry is the antithesis of holy in the realm of spiritual rumination. (We mull over scripture verses---cows chew cud—sweet nourishment is end result for both)

• A mind is not just to be emptied without purpose---that can be dangerous. When we empty our minds for meditation, we need to fill it with God’s truth in order to further our understanding of Him and His Word. Keep your Bible at your fingertips.

• Precede meditation with prayer. Praying Psalm 119: 18 can be a way of seeking spiritual guidance as you seek Truth. “Open my eyes that I may behold wonderful things from Thy law.” “Let my cry come before Thee O Lord, give me understanding according to Thy word.” (Psa. 119:169)

• For meditation to have real value it must be occupied with God and His truth.

As I reflect on the verse or passage for a day or week, I usually have a page in my notes labeled THOTS. It stands for Trusting Him On This Subject. Anyone who has ever looked over my teaching notes has seen my acronym. It’s where I jot down questions, or ideas that have come to mind or other verse citations that might be similar. My first thoughts might need to be seen in context with the rest of the passage or measured against all of scripture, so I need spiritual guidance. Sometimes even commentaries will differ. I want to know the life truth that God has for me. I might "Philipians 4:8 it" as teacher, Kay Arthur, taught me and “think on these things”---things that are just, pure, lovely, of good report and worthy of praise.

Just as I finished jotting these notes, I was served a “cuppa” and some Walker’s shortbread, Le Petit Ecolier, and was joined by my friends (along with a resident bluebird) what a way to begin the day. I am indeed rejoicing…..but I’m still meditating.

Up the Road a Piece

5/3/09 Down the Road with Friends
I will be out of pocket for a few days so postings may be iffy. I’m going up the road a piece to my dear friend, Doris’, farm for a few days of R & R---not even a good cell signal there unless you stand in one spot. I guess I could traipse out to the high point in the pasture with my computer. I do plan on having lots of time to sit, with my Bible and my journal, on her big porch---I sense “Reflections from a Rocker” in my blog future.
Two other dear friends, Beth, who nursed me in Dallas during my first surgeries, and Winslow, who nursed me in Memphis between surgeries, will be there as well. Nurse Larry has a long list of instructions to give these nurses, including making sure I walk everyday and keeping me out of the sun. He thinks this will be good for me because I have to go back to the therapist on Thursday and my mouth movement/exercise needs a lot of work. I assume he thinks there will be lots of talking and laughing. Imagine that!
My grandmother, Mama Davenport, used to talk about people who lived in the rural part---I guess it was all rural---in Hampton Station, as those who lived up the road a piece or down the road a piece. Certainly there were no GPSs (is there a plural for GPS) and her concept of directions was the same as all the other folks who lived there. One family lived down the road a piece just past the clump of trees. I guess it didn’t matter the direction you were traveling because everyone knew where the clump of trees was just like they knew that my mother’s family lived across from the blue hole. I’m sure they had a street address but I never knew it.
All this to say that when my friend, Doris, and I talked yesterday, she gave me similar directions because admittedly she said, “I don’t know if you’re going east or west or even north or south, but once you go past Ida and Chris's long white barn (whoever Ida & Chris are) turn by Karen's store go on past the Methodist Church on Old Berlin Road and on past the sign, you know the kind that has a fire truck on it, you go on down the road as far as the black fence goes and there’s my drive. You can’t miss it.” I’d say that’s a sure thing except that Beth is driving, so one never knows.

What I do know---In studying Abraham’s life, one sees the total confidence that he had in the One he utterly trusted. The secret of this, seems to me to be an entire life of friendship with God. He knew God to be his good and faithful friend and he took Him at His word. James 2:23 says….Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.
God’s word says:
• (Proverbs 17:17) A friend loveth at all times; (KJV)
• (Proverbs ) Ointment and perfume rejoice the heart: so doth the sweetness of a man's friend by hearty counsel. (KJV)
• (John 15:15) Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. (KJV)

Heritage Recounting

5/2/09---Rainy Days
I do so love a rainy day----most bibliophiles do. However, as I look out the window and see my bush of snowballs, heavy laden with not only the night rain but the continuing drizzle of the day, I realize their beauty will fade pretty fast. I won’t to hold onto it. At the first of the week, I, at Larry’s encouragement, had taken a picture of it. I had it---my own digital “recall” of my “heritage” snowball bush. What a great visual!
I share this plant freely with family, friends and neighbors---so the “heritage” continues as they recall and share with others outside of the Davenport/Adams/Liles families. I am so glad to be able to share something that has such great memories for me.
But isn’t “heritage” more than passing on plants? Am I as diligent to share with my children and grandchildren the greatness of the Lord’s faithfulness in my life? Do I recount for them all that He has done? My words might be the closest thing to a visual that they receive.
Psalm 78:4 “We will not conceal them from their children, but tell to the generation to come the praises of the Lord, and His strength and His wondrous works that He has done.”
Have you told your children or grandchildren or other loved ones of the Lord’s faithfulness? Are you wondering why you should even consider doing that---other than the fact that it helps you remember as well?
This testimony, was commanded by the Lord to the Israelites…..”that they should teach them to their children; That they should put their confidence in God, and not forget the works of God and remember His commandments.” Psalm 78: 5-7)
Even if you don’t have children of your own or are not at this point in your spiritual walk, at least begin to recount what God has been doing in your life. List ways that show of His faithfulness to you. This will not only create a grateful heart, but will also remind you of His past faithfulness when you face storms that come. This list often becomes “my visual” reminder of all that He has done for me. Such a focus has a way of increasing my faith/trust in Him for the days ahead. That’s a real “heritage” to pass on and plant in someone else’s heart---just keep praying for it to take root.

From Praying Through Cancer, a 90 day devotional:
Tip#5 Recount the Lord’s faithfulness as you face present difficulties.

Blog asides:
• Jigsaw puzzlers are coming out of the woodwork. Knitters and quilters are rising up for equal time.
• It’s Derby Day---Guess where I’ll be at 5:04 pm CST? I might not be at the Churchill Downs at “post time,” but I, along with my dad and brothers and extended KY family, will be watching as they lift the gate---It’s the 135th Run for the Roses and it’s what we do. Plus, I love the hats, especially now that my “condition” requires wearing one whenever I’m out and about.
I don’t do the mint juleps, though a little Benedictine sounds tasty, or the wagering but I always have a favorite thoroughbred. This year it’s Join in the Dance (50-1) and Chocolate Candy (20-1)---the (a.m.) odds might be bad but the names are right!!
On YouTube they have this song---I like the chorus---even beautiful horses need to dance.
And it’s run for the roses----------As fast as you can
Your fate is delivered--------------Your moment’s at hand
It’s the chance of a lifetime-----------In a lifetime of chance
And it’s high time you joined----In the dance.
It’s high time you joined-----In the dance.
-- From “Run for the Roses" by Dan Fogelberg

Faith Fodder

5/1 Faith facts to feed on----

So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17 KJV)

For we walk by faith, not by sight—(2 Corinthians 5:7 NASB)

“Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” (Hebrews 11:1 NIV)

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. (James 1:2-3 NASB)

• Has someone ever told you to put on a "happy faith?" Did you try to conjure it up?
• Has anyone ever said, I wish that I had the faith that you have? How would you tell them to go about getting it?
• Have you ever heard people pray for more faith? Do you wonder if what they really want is something very visible?
• How do you factor faith into life’s struggles or dark times? Do you have faith in your faith or in Him?

decadence = decaDANCE

4/30/09 decaDANCE w/ apologies to wordsmiths
Weeks ago when I described a dance of depenDANCE, I could use that spelling because Mr. Webster said it was a variant of dependence. I changed the spelling for emphasis and to aid friends my age, who need “association” help in order to remember. This time I thought I was going to have to really lay hold of poetic license. Then I decided to “google” decadance. I found a group called Decadance. It is a social dance performance group that strives to make traditional couple-dancing less traditional. My dance with the Lord is probably not considered norm by some folks but it does rely on Him as the one who leads. The purpose of Decadance is to be interesting and inspirational for all types of audiences. That part I can also agree with. But when the dance becomes all about self---where other links took me---it becomes decaDANCE, as it crosses an unhealthy line and personifies that “self” indulgence, that I am convinced, is the wrong kind of dance for God’s children.

Past blogs have indicated that in the depenDANCE one steps toward and leans on the partner who is leading---that is such an important part of the abunDANCE---the leading of the Lord. The avoiDANCE however is one that pulls away from the partner who is leading. The dance then becomes one of evading the rhythmic guidance that is crucial for the two to “dance on” together. The result is the antithesis of a partner relationship. The decaDANCE can have a similar result---when one dancer wants to go it alone. The spotlight is on one---the mantra is “all about Me.” Time’s 2006 Man of the Year had readers gaze at their own reflections in the mylar mirror on the magazine's cover. They were thinking of YOU/ME --everyone in today’s digital age having a part in the information age with cell phones with video capacity; I was seeing a world ruled by self-absorption, with YouTube, MySpace, Facebook and yes, even blogs.

At a Tea Pot exhibit at the Dixons Gallery there was a quote from a man with 10,000 tea pots. “Anything worth doing is worth overdoing.” To me, that is a reflection of our over indulgent culture/society…..and it is wrongful thinking. What's the purpose?
Rick Warren, in Purpose Driven Life, addresses this issue with his first sentence, “It’s not about you.” Yet, we are taught early on to “watch out for #1” or “the one with the most toys wins”---this self-absorption is decaDANCE. It desires more of Me and less of thee. (capitalization intentional) Even our focus is on “my wants,” “my goals,” “my dreams,” “my life.” That emphasis on self is an empty/purposeless life that never gets filled no matter how much we try to add to it---whether a bigger home or faster car or prettier face, or more achievements—it’s all just “stuff” that never satisfies, because it will never be enough. “Meaninglessness in life comes from not only too much pain but also measures of too much pleasure.” (C. Huffman 11/30/08) The life of abunDANCE comes to those who find satisfaction in Him and live according to His purpose.
Choose to ”dance” with purpose. Let decaDANCE and avoiDANCE remain wallflowers in your life. abunDANCE is from Him who came that we might “have life and have it abundantly." (John 10:10)

Life's ZUPLEZ

4/29/09 Puzzle Solutions
Jigsaw puzzles frustrate me---bringing words to mind like tense and failure. My friend, JoLynn, loves them. Probably words like calming and a welcoming challenge come to her mind.
We even approach the puzzles differently. I check out the picture on the box, turn over all the pieces and shake out all the gray dust from the box, sort those “right side up” pieces according to color, search for the straight edged ones and begin to put together the border. I always begin by focusing on the end product.
JoLynn, on the other hand doesn’t even look at the picture. I don’t know if that’s part of the intrigue or just her way of enjoying the journey of “jigsawing” and being delighted by the end result, whatever that may be. She looks at the shape of each piece---probably seeing patterns in all those knobs and holes---that look like innies and outies to me. Recently she even worked a puzzle with out a border---just knobs and holes---no uniform straight edge. That’s beyond my comprehension.

While I approach the puzzle with the idea to hurry and get it over with, hoping to find satisfaction in completion, she enjoys the journey along the way. She’s actually calm, almost tranquil as she enjoys the “means” to the end of her puzzle. She’s told me that her mind can be elsewhere, sorting our some of life’s urgencies while she’s assembling the puzzle---that’s really beyond me!

Our lives can seem like one big puzzle and we all approach them in our own way. However, watching her I’ve seen some truths, not only in her expertise with a jigsaw puzzle, but also in her approach to life. She knows the end to her life will be eternity with the Lord. This allows her, in both the game and her life’s walk, to enjoy the journey.
Just like she doesn’t try to force a piece of a puzzle where it doesn’t fit the total picture, she doesn’t force herself and her desires above the Lord or those she loves. JoLynn knows well that each puzzle piece only works perfectly in one spot---no matter how much you twist it and turn it. It will only truly “fit” where the puzzle creator intended it to be placed. On that puzzle board, she knows that and is content with the unseen, knowing there will be a beautiful picture that she will see when it is finished. In her life, it’s His plan not hers that she follows, one moment at a time---just like she follows the lead of those puzzle pieces one at a time, piece by piece. She doesn’t compartmentalize all the puzzle pieces and she doesn’t compartmentalize her secular life from her spiritual life--it all works together for good, because she loves the Lord and trusts Him for the unseen outcome---His masterpiece. “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
(Hebrews 11:1)

Too often, we make life more complex than it needs to be. In all our busyness of trying to “get it right”, our way, we can become fragmented and frustrated. We wear ourselves out trying to force spirituality. It’s really just simple faith that we need. As we give it to Him, in trust, piece-by-piece, He creates the masterpiece---it’s His work! It’s when we try to take it out of His hands---forcing the pieces of our life to look like they all fit together for good---that we run into problems.
“For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:6)