Do You Struggle...

to hear the voice of God?

I shook my head as the pastor asked that question during today's sermon.

I hear God's voice all the time. Had the pastor asked, "Do you struggle to "follow" the voice of God?"

I would have smiled and nodded.

I am a child of God. Time and again, my heavenly Father advises me.

I know it is Him. From deep within my being comes a persistent, calm voice of ultimate reason – one that sometimes seems unreasonable or profound but, upon reflection, is absolutely right.

Like a child pushing the parental boundaries, I sometimes rebel – insisting upon MY way. And to what end? I find my Father's guiding hand around my shoulder comforting me: You'd have saved yourself time and energy following my instruction.

That's how it happened Sunday. I was on my way to a bridal shower – ALONE – doing a GIRL thing. I left right after church. No looking back – at the house, its messes, lunch preparation, whatever... "A free day off," as Noah would say. He and the rest of my guys would spend the afternoon with the church youth group frolicking at a local hotel in the water park.

I drove in silence – southbound over the hills, winding through the forest and onto the main highway toward my hometown. If all went well, I had an hour to spend before the party's start. I intended to shop. I needed a big roll of batting – a supply for my Norway trip fundraiser.

It was in that BEAUTIFUL silence – away from the noise of my parental duties, I sought God.

My heavenly Father said:
Just go to the party.


I replied:
What?
I can avoid temptation.
I can conquer the fabrics.
I just need batting.


Just go to the party.

I need the batting.
I have the coupon: 50% off plus a $10 gift card.
It won't get any cheaper than that.

Just go to the party.

I need the batting.
I have ALL this fabric to make potholders to sell to fund my Norway trip. I also have blankets to make.

Just go to the party.

But I have time today.
I need the batting.
The big batting roll might not be my local store when I get there later this week.


And so, the battle continued during my hour drive in "silence" with the Lord.
His: Just go to the party.
countering
My: I need the batting.


I got into town with time to spare. I went to the store. I combed the aisles of beautiful bargain fabric. I resisted temptation. I found a giant batting roll. I took it to the cutting table. I asked, "Do I need a slip or just take it to the checkout."

The clerk said, "You need a slip. Do you have a coupon?"

"Yes," I nodded. The store phone rang. She excused herself. I dug in my purse, found the flyer and paged to find the coupon. It wasn't there. I paged once more. Nothing. I looked at the flyer date and realized this was the old flyer. The new one with the BIG savings coupon was left at home. The clerk returned. I explained my trouble. I put the batting back.

And I drove to the party... in silence.

This time, I spoke first:
OK God, I know. You told me so.
I should have heeded your voice: Just go to the party.


I told my story about heeding His voice several times that day. I figured: Okay, I can still try again later in the week at our local store. No big deal.

But that night, I got a bigger surprise. God took the advice to the next level. I opened a forwarded email from a fellow church member. One of the lines PENETRATED my heart. It read:

"A rich person is not the one who has the most, but the one who needs the least."


Long ago, I understood "materialism." Recently, I've made strides to "simplify." (One step forward. Two steps back?) But now, this thought struck me. "How can I justify buying more... to sew more... to sell more... to earn more... for my trip?"

For months, God has been asking: "Do you trust me?"

When I say: "Yes. But..."

He asks again: "Do you trust me?"

I say: "Yes..."


And He replies:

"Then let it go.

('IT' being the old ways: making and peddling wares – and even – the worries of 'how.')

"I have a better way. Trust Me."


I hear His voice.
And yet, I struggle.

Do You Struggle...

Best of the Best

Shopping is an escape.

I will miss escaping to Norway. In my mind, I traveled there each time I visited Nordic Living – a local Scandinavian-lifestyle store and school.

Yarns, rugs, sweaters, fabrics, foods, tea sets, books, cards, music and a zillion other things displayed in cozy nooks transported me to my second home – without the flight ticket.

Whether shopping for a gift or on a trip to reminisce, I could hop in the car, drive through the forest and be there – in minutes.

Today everything in the store was 75% off. With one week to go until the doors closed forever, the owner stood at the counter welcoming patrons – many whom – she knew by name, including me.

"So what are you going to do with all the time on your hands once this is over?" I asked. She replied, "Look for gainful employment. We've still got to put food on the table."

I asked, "You mean – work for someone else?"

She nodded, "It'll be hard. We had five wonderful years. We worked with the best of the best. Our customers were terrific. But sales topped out a couple years ago. We tried things, like a catalog, to try and boost sales. But it just didn't work. Now we'll have to see."

"Right away? After all of THIS?" I pressed, motioning my hand around the emptying store. "Aren't you going to take a little time off?"

"Maybe a month," she said. "I'm going to weave."

I nodded and began to weave through the remnants of merchandise. For two hours, I paged through books, rummaged through fabrics, fingered ribbon, scanned CDs, browsed at cards, jewelry, sweaters, florals and porcelain. I needed nothing. (The vanilla sugar was long gone.) But I imagined projects: sewing, reading and relaxing.

I came to the counter with a bundle of fabric, a spool of ribbon, two children's books and a porcelain plate. The owner figured each discount and recited my cost.


Before I handed her the porcelain plate, I showed her the blue mark on the backside.


"This one is special! It's from Magnor – the glass factory in my home community in Norway. And, Per Spook is a well-known Norwegian designer."

I noted a couple other reasons. The pine cone-and-needle design befit our home decor; and at 75% off, it's still less than half the price of a platter. I figured cookies would serve up just as well on a dinner plate. The owner scanned the plate and surprised me with a further reduction: "Just $5."

I raised my eyebrows: "If that's the case, I'll take the cup and saucer too," I said. She rang up my last item: "That's also $5."


While she
took
payment,
I said,

"These
(books)
will be
great for
gifts."


Pointing to the cup and plates, she asked, "But these – are for you?"



I nodded,


"They'll be
perfect at
home in my
Norwegian
coffee
nook.


I can have a cup of coffee, think of Magnor and remember Nordic Living – The Best of the Best!

Halfway

Half

full

or

half

empty?




Early today, I considered that rhetorical question about a glass – containing a measure of liquid. It put – into perspective – last night's worries.

I had felt overwhelmed counting the remaining Sundays for this school year, looking at the few lessons left in our book and thinking of the extra planning.

"I just wish it was done!" I sighed. Then... a small voice whispered, "Go to bed."

With rest, I felt refreshed. I recalled strides made and people who've helped. I imagined ways to make Spring's season come alive for our church children.


Rather than see
things as either


half full

or

half empty,


I now viewed them as


Halfway!

(Special thanks to my photo assistant.)

San Andreas Fault?

Here

Upnorth

we

call

it:

the

January

Thaw.


Noting seasonal changes Along Life's Road

Three Wise Men

Three Wise Men – the homemade gift I sent my Nordic friends and family.

Three Wise Men – the theme of today's Sunday School party.

As both the Nativity hand-i-crafter and Sunday School superintendent, I researched these star-following visitors of the Christ child.

With those in Scandinavia, I shared the message of the Wise Men's prophetic gifts:
Gold symbolizing His kingship;
Frankincense – His priesthood;
And myrrh – His sacrifice in dying on a cross for you and me.

With our
Sunday
School
students,

I

journeyed

another

route.

First baking star-shaped cookies for the children to decorate and eat.



Then
showing
a catchy
animation
from
these
Wise
Men's
viewpoint.




Next holding a

"Search –

for the
(64)
Stars"

hidden
throughout
the church;

Followed by a reading of the six Bible verses – one for each color; Plus identifying three stars marked: Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh.
(Those star holders were crowned and given a tray of small gift boxes to distribute.)

Finally, explaining
the gift-box
symbolism.

On the outside:

A metallic bow
to represent
Christ's shining star;

and a Bible verse
to tell
of its leading power.

On the inside:

a picture

depicting

the
Wise Men's
visit
to the
Christ
Child;

a few treats reflecting this Bible verse about His qualities:

as a ruler/king – a gold-foil-wrapped chocolate,
as the shepherd – a candy-cane crook;

and biblical stickers for decorating the box.


The dictionary defines "epiphany" as "a leap of understanding." That's exactly what I felt coordinating this event. During my research, shopping and web-surfing, I couldn't understand why I was drawn to certain elements. While folding paper to make the gift boxes, I meditated... Then – in "a leap of understanding" of how individual pieces related to each other – I experienced "Epiphany." This January 6th holiday reminds us to search – as did the Three Wise Men.

You Are Mine

I had a million things to do today.

My husband put them into perspective. He asked me to leave the boys at home and join him later that morning.

After coaching an elementary basketball practice, Dan came home to change. His voice was hoarse. Together we drove – first to the gas station for a cough drop and then – to the church.

We sat separately. I took a back pew. He waited up front. When he rose to the microphone, I began to pray:

Dear Lord,
Heal his voice.
Let him honor you.

And he did – singing a beautiful solo during this memorial service. The departed woman's husband asked Dan to sing. The song spoke volumes. But, what got my heart was this chorus part:

Do not be afraid, I am with you.
I have called you... by name.
Come and follow me. I will bring you home.
I love you and You are mine.

The song writer intended the words to be God's – reaching out to each of us. Yet in this moment's pause – amidst the labors of life –
as I listened to my husband sing, I also understood the words as an invitation from husband to wife... I love you and You Are Mine.

New Year...

...means looking forward. But first, I file a few memories.

Spending her first Christmas season inside, Tickles (our outdoor cat) became fascinated with our Norwegian tree. One morning I found a styrofoam mouse lying on the floor – its rump, ears and nose scattered across the carpet. A few dabs of glue made the mouse whole. Teeth marks proved its viking roots – able to withstand battle... albeit with a cat.

Tickles battled not only the mouse but also the nisse. I watched her sitting on the floor, staring into the eyes of the gnome doll before she jumped up and swatted it to the floor. The incident explained why the nisse kept "falling out" of the tree.

This new stove replaces our 23-year-old model. It had a faulty oven element and two bad burners. For two months, I had to bake everything between 400-450ºF. The boys would often yell, "Mom! There's smoke coming out of the oven."

But, the last straw came days before Christmas. I was frying hamburger when one burner shot out sparks and arced a welding spot on my pan.

Arriving at our home the Saturday before Christmas, this new model made baking Swedish tea rings a pleasure.

This New Year's afternoon/eve, I spent home alone.

Because he felt ill, Dan stayed home alone on Christmas Day. I took the boys to his parents' to celebrate with his siblings and their families. When the boys and I returned about 8 pm, Dan said, "The best gift I got this year was six hours of peace and quiet – to read uninterrupted."

Understandable for the man who comes home to chatter after hours of the same at work. Occasional solitude promotes good health.

Today we exchanged. Dan took the boys to his parents' home to celebrate the end of Christmas vacation. Rather than read, I photographed and wrote letters – thanking my Nordic friends and families for gifts, such as these glass angels made in my adopted-home community in Norway.

As the New Year sun set, I broke to watch the colors. I grabbed my camera and caught the view through my bedroom window – where there hung a Nordic heart ornament from another season long ago...

About 8 pm, Dan and the boys came home.

This time I thanked him for giving me
the gift of solitude –
to share with you!

Time to move forward. Happy New Year.