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I am still reading Henri J.M. Nouwen’s “The Return of the Prodigal Son” and I had share this insight of his as he gazed at Rembrandt’s “Return of the Prodigal Son” painting immediately below.  It’s about the hands of the father.  Please read on for here are Father Nouwen’s words.

The longer I looked at the “the patriarch,” the clearer it became to me that Rembrandt had done something quite different from letting God pose as the wise old head of the family.  It all began with the hands.  The two are quite different. The father’s left hand touching the son’s shoulders is strong and muscular.  The fingers are spread out and cover a large part of the prodigal son’s shoulder and back. I can see a certain pressure, especially in the thumb. That hand seems not only to touch, but, with its strength, also to hold.  Even though there is a gentleness in the way the father’s left hand touches his son, it is not without a firm grip.

How different is the father’s right hand!  This hand does not hold or grasp. It is refined, soft, and very tender.  The fingers are close to each other and they have an elegant quality. It lies gently upon the son’s shoulder. It wants to cares, to stroke, and to offer consolation and comfort. It is a mother’s hand.

Nouwen points out that our Father is there loving us as both a mother and a father. I found this amazing and when I get down and out, I immediately run into my Father’s hands to feel his firm left hand bringing me closer and his right hand rubbing my back and soothing my soul. When I am caught in his embrace…the only way I get out of it is me letting go. God never wants to let go. It’s us who determines the length of time we stay in our Father’s arms.

It absolutely amazing and safe.  I hope you try it. If so, let me know what the experience was like for you.

Run into your Father’s arms.  It’s there you are going to feel that you are home.

Have you ever seen Rembrandt’s “Return of the Prodigal Son?” God just made me aware of it, thanks to a new bible study we are doing in Sunday School.  It’s absolutely magnificent and speaks to your soul. I have never been moved like this before by observing a painting.  It has so much meaning that I think I will be regularly blogging about it for some time.  But, right now, I just want you to sit still and take it in.  It is based on one of the parables in the Bible.  If you are not aware of this parable, you can read it here in Luke 15: 11-32.

But, here’s the painting. It’s awe inspiring.

This Painting is Mesmerizing

There is so much to say about this painting.  But right now, I want to center on the father.  Do you see how the son feels so safe in his father’s arms.  This image convicted me.  It made me wonder if I would be as loving if someone deeply hurt me.  Sadly, I think my flesh would prevail and I’d turn my back.  But, I yearn to be so loving.

Also, look at the son’s state. Do you see how his shoes are tattered.  How his head is shaved like a slave. How comfortable he feels in his dad’s arms.  Do you realize our Father is there the same way for us. We can feel so emotionally tattered and He’s there with open arms to comfort and love us and not ask any questions.

Isn’t this painting amazing?

God Bless.

A Prodigal Daughter

Dads are the first men Daughters Love

I have a wonderful, loving mother.  I know God blessed me with her to make up for the absence of love from my Dad.  My Dad has been in heaven for eight years now, but the effects of his lack of love toward his little girl has been lifelong  and probably one of the main reasons why I am still not married.

I am coming to better terms with my Father’s relationship and this post is not meant to be about bashing him or dads in general for that matter.  But, I just wanted to speak from my heart and speak from experience to all fathers out there who have little girls in their care. I want to remind them about how important their role is in the life of their daughters.

For you see the world tells us at a very young age that we are to wait for our Prince Charming.  But, even though we learn about our Prince through Disney classics - it is our fathers who embody them for us. They are the first men in our lives who love us – they set the bar for how we should choose our boyfriends and our Prince Charmings.  Dads are so very important to our well-being.  In many ways, they are more valuable in this area than our mothers.

Whenever I am able to give advice to dads who are struggling with teenage girls, I ask them if they have ever taken their daughters on a date.   Every time I hear the same answer – it is no.  I tell them that their daughters need to learn what to expect on a date before they have their first one – this is a lesson every dad can give their daughter. I so wish my dad did that with me.  I wished he cared enough about me and how I let boys/men treat me.  His words to me would have been so helpful, especially when I was such a shy girl.

I am writing this today, because it’s every Valentine’s Day that I remember the two times that he did something for me. The first was when I was in junior high and was sick.  He brought me a box of chocolates in a heart-shaped box the day after Valentine’s because they were half off at the drug store.  The second came two decades later.  He actually bought me a couple roses with a little card.

Which do you think meant more to me?  You guessed it.  The card.  I still have it. It is taped to a photo frame containing his picture. That card is priceless to me.  Whenever I feel the most unloved or unlovable or just plain down, I look at the card and remember that my Dad was not able to show me his love. It was his problem and not mine.  But he did tell it to me once with this card. God allowed me to have one memento from the first man in my life.  I do know now after years of therapy that, in his own way, he loved me the best he could.

I could go on and on about Valentine’s Day.  I am not a fan, only because I’m not on a date with someone who thinks I’m terrific.  I really think Valentine’s Day is a holiday that Satan uses mightily.  For those of us single, divorced, widowed, brokenhearted – it’s a day of sadness – if you let it be.  But, God, told me this week – that he has all the love for me that I need.  I am not unloved.  I am not unlovable.  I am His Valentine. I still have my mom who has never forgotten me on Valentine’s.  And I have this card.

Lasting Words from my Father on Valnetine's Day - A Valentine's Day Reminder

So dads do something special with your daughters. Teach them about how they should expect to be treated by the opposite sex.  Take them on one-on-one dates. Make them feel special and be the first man in their lives to give them flowers with a little card on Valentine’s Day.  I guarantee you that they will keep that card the rest of their life just like I’m doing.

Happy Valentine’s Day.

This Field is Taking A Rest Before it Produces Again.

God gave me a good word today out of a place I’d never expect it – Leviticus 25. I mean I usually skim through this book because it’s full of procedures for atoning, but He gave me a gem for those of us who are in “transition” – which is the politically correct word nowadays for unemployment.

The LORD said to Moses on Mount Sinai, ²³ For six years sow your fields, and for six years prune your vineyards and gather their crops. ⁴ But in the seventh year the land is to have a sabbath of rest, a sabbath to the LORD. Do not sow your fields or prune your vineyards. ⁵ Do not reap what grows of itself or harvest the grapes of your untended vines. The land is to have a year of rest. ⁶ Whatever the land yields during the sabbath year will be food for you—for yourself, your manservant and maidservant, and the hired worker and temporary resident who live among you, ⁷ as well as for your livestock and the wild animals in your land. Whatever the land produces may be eaten. “Speak to the Israelites and say to them: ‘When you enter the land I am going to give you, the land itself must observe a sabbath to the LORD.

My devotional today asked me this question – Do I have the faith to do what God required of Israel?  In essence, do I have faith to place my source of livelihood completely in God’s hands?

So if God have given me two decades of work – and now – is giving me a year of sabbatical rest – can I trust him in that?  I know it’s God will for me to be without study employment at the moment, but I never saw it as truly a gift from him of rest. For me to get my soil rich again – to give it a breather so it can gain nutrients that have been depleted over the years.  He’s ordained this.  He wants me to rest. Rest in him. Trust him.

So if you are in transition…why not say the correct word – you are on Sabbatical. A God appointed Sabbatical. See it as a gift from God and that He knows exactly what you need to get the proper nourishment.  This was never more clearer to me than last week when my back collapsed on me.  That injury caused me to stop my world for a time and forced me to rest in him.  He keeps saying to me “rest, my child” just rest.  How come that is the hardest thing for me to do?

May you find peace, comfort and rest in whatever year you are in whether on a sabbatical or working during this period.  If working, look ahead – a sabbatical will be coming.

God Bless!

The Israelites Were Seldom Content

In reading through the bible in the year plan that I am on – I got convicted today Big Time.  I’m in Exodus 16 and I’m walking along the Israelites and reading about their problems.  They keep telling their leader, Moses, that they are not happy with his leadership which has been directed by God.  Everywhere they turn they forget about his past huge miracle, the parting of the Red Sea, and all they do is whine about is their lack of food, water and protection. Waaa. Waaa. Waaa.  I’d be complaining too.

But it was this one line that really convicted me – it was Moses’ wise answer to their complaints for meat with their potatoes.

…the Lord has heard all your complaints against him.  What have we done?  Yes, your complaints are against the Lord, not against us.  v 8

So my take away this morning was that all of my complaints really are not against a person, place or thing – they are really against God and my lack of faith that he doesn’t know what is best for me. For example, when I get upset when the lines are too long in the grocery store or when I can’t find a parking spot, my complaint really is against God for not making my life easier.  When in fact, he may want me to wait to minister to someone in the grocery line, or may want me to not to be in harm’s way in the parking lot.  It all is for his good.

The thing I complain about the most is my singleness.  What I am really doing is verbally saying that I am not happy with how God is leading my life.

I need to stop complaining. How about you? In our church service today we recited the Serenity prayer and it was a longer version than I am accustom.  But, it’s right on target and I’m going to leave you with these words.

THE SERENITY PRAYER

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
That I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
Forever in the next.
Amen.

–Reinhold Niebuhr

What do we really need to complain to God about? His lack of love for us-no He loves unconditionally and most likely more than we love our ourselves?

Do you have any complaints?

God can help us get through any storm.

A friend sent me a timely devotion today about how God constantly comes to our rescue. He’s done it since the creation of Adam and He’s still at it today.  I don’t know about you, but I’m daily finding myself in some sort of situation where I need a helping hand to make it through.

I guess it’s the images I’m seeing coming from Haiti that bring it front and center for me.  I mean, if you think about it, everyone who has survived the earthquake in Port-au-Prince has needed someone to help them. They’ve either had a hand pull them out of the rubble or someone hand them water.  But, it’s not just the Haitians that need rescuing, it is each of us.

God is there to rescue us all. He gives us his full attention and is the first to extend his hand for he knows we need his help before we do.  But, often, he’s not called upon or in my case I doubt that He can do anything.  But every time I call out, He’s right there letting me know that I’m not alone in this world.

Do you need rescuing? I’ve got some good news for you.  There’s help for you right this minute.  There’s peace during this storm.  Cast your cares upon him.  Your burdens are light to Him.

It’s Jesus to the rescue.

Isaiah 46:4 (New International Version)

⁴ Even to your old age and gray hairs
I am he, I am he who will sustain you.
I have made you and I will carry you;
I will sustain you and I will rescue you.

It is written in Stone.

I was in one of those spots when I felt God was holding a deaf ear to me.  He’s been very active in my life and well, this week, he just disappeared – or at least so I thought.  I saw everyone around me getting blessed and being heard and well, I got into one of those pity parties I am so good at throwing.  But, that all changed last night.

For it was last night around the 3:50 a.m. hour that he woke me up to hear the following words – TRUST ME! And I heard it loud and clear.  I guess he had enough of my unbelief even in my REM sleep.  He wanted to silence whatever thoughts I was having and give my burdens over to him.

I wrote about blueprints in my last post and I guess this was his way of confirming he has my life under control. And if you think I was imagining hearing that word for God – well, wait to you hear this. I told a friend that God spoke to me last night and he asked me a strange question. He wanted to know what time God woke me up.  I told him and he said God woke him up at the same time and told him to pray for me.

So do I think God knows what’s going on in my life even though I don’t have a clue? Heck ya.  Do I think I’m called to trust him. Yes.  Is it hard – yes!  But, I heard it loud and clear.  He’s there for me, directing my path and providing relief.

Amen.

O Sovereign LORD, you are God! Your words are trustworthy, and you have promised these good things to your servant.  2 Sam 7:28

Right now I am having to trust God like never before.  As my coach, God has been conditioning me to trust him and work the fundamentals.  He has me reading his promises and believing them.  I’m been reciting and meditating on them over and over.  Such things like He will never leave nor forsake me. He will provide a path.  He chose me.  He forgives me.  He wants me to have peace in him. He loves me as his child.

I know the drill.  He’s there. So then why am I so fearful that this one time he won’t come through?  Oh me of little faith!

Talk about crazy. John Hulber of the Netherlands actually built a replica.

I am reading through the bible again this year and as such, I’m now in Genesis and so I am reading about the ark.  Man, God laid everything out for Noah from size, weight, materials and content.  He gave him the exact blueprints on how to build it.  He even gave him the vision for it. All Noah had to do was believe it and follow it.  Trust him. Be obedient.  And I know that’s what God want each of us to do too.  Trust his blueprints in our life.

Take Noah for example, he had no idea, if the world would think he was a crazy, but he didn’t care about the outcome. He did not doubt – but he followed God’s word.

¹² God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways. ¹³ So God said to Noah, “I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth. ¹⁴ So make yourself an ark of cypress  wood; make rooms in it and coat it with pitch inside and out. ¹⁵ This is how you are to build it: The ark is to be 450 feet long, 75 feet wide and 45 feet high.  ¹⁶ Make a roof for it and finish the ark to within 18 inches  of the top. Put a door in the side of the ark and make lower, middle and upper decks. ¹⁷ I am going to bring floodwaters on the earth to destroy all life under the heavens, every creature that has the breath of life in it. Everything on earth will perish. ¹⁸ But I will establish my covenant with you, and you will enter the ark—you and your sons and your wife and your sons’ wives with you. ¹⁹ You are to bring into the ark two of all living creatures, male and female, to keep them alive with you. ²⁰ Two of every kind of bird, of every kind of animal and of every kind of creature that moves along the ground will come to you to be kept alive. ²¹ You are to take every kind of food that is to be eaten and store it away as food for you and for them.”

²² Noah did everything just as God commanded him. Gen. 6:12-22

I’m in the same exact position right now. God is laying out for me a path for my life which is contrary to the world’s.  It’s unconventional and so that makes it a bit scary for me at the moment. But, he knows what my blueprint is and to him it’s not scary…it’s beautiful.  It’s what I was made for.  I just need to build his vision and believe.  If I follow his way, even when the floods come, I’ll be sailing above the water not under it.  And there’s no place else I’d rather be.

If this is your prayer too, I will stand with you.  Let’s follow God’s path and share in this adventure that He has created for each one of us.

Is there any barrier we can’t overcome?

Downtown LA never looked better. Credit: David Toussaint. Header image Credit: nOnick

Why didn’t I think of this?

I have been seeing the chiropractor recently for a chronic back injury I have from playing so many years of competitive volleyball. I sure didn’t feel any problems when I was younger, but now, all those years of diving and jumping on hard wood floors has taken its toll.  If I don’t go through a 30 minute exercise regimen every morning, I can forget about walking without any pain.

My chiropractor has added some new exercises lately which have caused me to literally look up.  In fact, did you know that the proper way to stand up every time is push up from your feet and tilt your head up, looking toward the sky!  I didn’t know that. And then he gave me an additional exercise – a variation of a squat – that causes me to look up the entire time.

Through these exercises I have been asked to look up more – which lead me to believe that isn’t that what God has been asking me to do all the time. Why did it take the chiropractor to have me look toward heaven? Why didn’t I just normally do that any way – I mean if I really want to improve my walk – is there any better way?

So, the lesson of this post is that there is a correlation between walking and looking up.  To have the best walk possible, keep your eyes toward your eternal home, where our King sits – protecting and loving us and wishing we would just keep focused on Him.

I lift up my eyes to you,
to you whose throne is in heaven. Psalm 123:1

Also, when looking for applicable photos for this post, I saw some incredible images when I searched Flickr for “looking up.”  Look at some of these beautiful images.  I’ve been missing out of so much beauty because I’ve never taken the time to look up.  Try it out and let me know what you see!

Credit: Krug6

Keeping my eyes upward,

Cindy

When I sat down to watch the film Marley & Me for the first time, I had thought it would be a lighthearted comedy about a dog. Didn’t you?  I had no idea that the movie was really about life and the frustrations and hurt that goes along with it.  I mean the film touched it all…the growing pains of marriage, sacrifices, disappointments and the loss of a loved one.  Good thing I watched it at home and not at the movie theater for I wouldn’t have had tissues.

But, then, this morning when I was contemplating my own life and where I am at the current moment this thought popped into my head – when we cut to the chase and at the end of day – don’t all we really have is God.  So life really is about this film project – God & Me.

To further illustrate this point, God is Marley (the dog) in this metaphor.  Like the photo below, I try my best to put God on a leash and direct his path.  However, thank goodness He has my best interests at heart and truly is the one in control of my life.

Who's Directing Your Path?

But, I’m stubborn and want my own way – just like He does.  I get mad when he’s tearing up my life and cleansing me of things that aren’t so good for me.  That hurts.  Or how about when he wanders off and plays with others. That makes me feel alone and devalued.  Yeah life give us bad times, but it also gives the good.

How about those times that He gives you love.  When scared He comforts you.  When He sends a friend or a note or Facebook connection your way.  When the money does come through. When the medical report is positive.  When He takes care of you when unemployed.  When you read His word and just the right scripture is there and soothes your soul.

When was the last time God licked your face?

To be truthfully honest here, my life isn’t how I thought it would be.   But, even though it not what I wanted it to be, I do trust that God knows best.  He has kept me on a short leash (amen!) and for that I am thankful.  I guess I just need to relax my hands a bit more as He guides me through life and not be so quick to choke Him.

For after all life is about God & Me.

“For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him. John 3:16-17″