The Vision

A few weekends ago I went on a ladies' retreat with my church. During a time of soaking prayer I had a beautiful vision that I feel led to share with you all. First of all, it was really challenging for me to begin soaking. I laid down and it was nothing like peaceful meditation. My thoughts were everywhere...except on the Lord. Finally, I quieted by heart. The next thing I knew tears were pouring down my face. I was in the presence of the Lord.

I saw myself walking through a field of grain, wearing a summer dress. I let my hands touch the grains and drift over the tops. I was walking towards Jesus who was facing me. Around me in the distance were people I admired, prophets, and pastors. All with their backs turned looking towards the mountains that surrounded the valley where I walked.

Around me were also children, lots of children--laughing, playing, running. Occasionally, I would pick up a child and walk a little ways with the child before setting him/her down. But my eyes always remained on Jesus. I did not hurry. I did not look away. My eyes were steadfastly on Him and I just contentedly walked.

As I walked I remembered all the great things those with their backs turned had prophesied over me and all the things I was expected to do. I did not do any of them. I just walked towards Jesus.

As I walked, my children all around me, laughing and playing, began to climb the mountains. As they climbed they grew. They stood on top of all the mountains surrounding my valley.

As I was seeing this scene Jesus whispered to me, "All you have to do is walk after me. That is the greatest work you could do. Your children will reach their destinies because you just follow me. Let them play and laugh. You just keep your eyes on me."

The peace I felt in this place was overwhelming. All the burdens to perform, to "do something", to achieve, to live up to man's expectations just fell away. Even now to think of it, all I sense is perfect peace.

Holy, Holy, Is The Lord Our God

I think, in heaven, when the elders throw their crowns before His throne and say "Holy, holy, holy" it will gain momentum and will start to thunder up and sound something like this.




(The worship team from our church, Harvest Rock.)

Unless you become as little children...

...you cannot enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

Matthew 18:3

This week the children's Bible lessons have been all about heaven. So, today being Friday, we decided to end with a bang and paint a mural of heaven. Our homeschooling buddies Caleb and Chris came over to paint with us.

Here are some close-ups, along with the children's interpretations of their own art.

Lucas, age 4

Captain, almost 3

Meg, age 7

Israel, age 6

Chris, age 2

Caleb, age 5

Meg again, age 7

Larry Norman 4/8/1947 - 2/24/2008

Larry Norman went to his eternal reward yesterday.



I remember as a kid watching A Thief In The Night and being scared out of my skin. I remember getting my heart right with Jesus every time we watched that at youth meetings or New Year's Eve services. Larry Norman's song "I Wish We'd All Been Ready" was a part of that movie.

If you enjoy CCM or if there are guitars and/or drums at your church, you probably owe it to Larry Norman, who was an outspoken voice for Christian artists. He wrote, “Why Should The Devil Have All The Good Music." (Indeed!)

Someday I'll thank this child of the 60's for leaving us a legacy of art and faith. I'll also have to thank him for scaring me to bits about the Rapture as a kid--it's probably a big factor in me learning to run to Jesus!

Here's DC Talk covering his song, "I Wish We'd All Been Ready."



"When thy enemy is encamped around and about thee, when thou art stuck in the heavy traffic of life ... meditate upon the Word.

When you are trapped at a grade-school recital ... when you are in church and you are overly familiar with a song, escape into God's realm." (From Meditation is the Medication)

Teach Us To Number Our Days

So, this has to be the silliest internet quiz there is. According to this I'm due to pass away in quite the humiliating way. I hope the cause of death isn't described in my obituary. I wonder if Gana will be able to sue Victoria Secret after this?

How Will I Die Quiz You will die at the age of 60 You will die when your underwear gets to tight and cuts off your blood circulation Find out how you will die at Quizopolis.com Quizopolis src="http://extimg.quizopolis.com/images/smallquizopolis.jpg" border=0>

Only God knows the number of our days and where we will spend them. I want to be one of those people that enjoys every day and every moment, even if it's not necessarily pleasant. For example, the other night the baby was up literally all night. I was so tired and frustrated and ready to run away. I was awake anyway, what a waste of good prayer time, you know? Or today I sat in the drive thru at the bank for about 35 minutes. Couldn't back out, couldn't go forward. Should have used that time to teach the kids something valuable. Instead I listened to talk radio.

Teach us to number our days, that we might gain a heart of
wisdom. Psalm 90:12

How much time do I waste this way? If I die when I'm sixty because my chonies are too tight, I have about 11,300 days left. What will I do with them? How many will I spend in front of the TV watching junk food for my brain? How many will I spend desperately grasping for sleep that eludes me? How many of those days will I spend kvetching that life isn't fair or wishing I was somewhere else or doing something else?

According to some survey, of which I don't know the source, the average American will spend...

Six months of his/her life at stoplights (I think I want to move to the country.)

Eight months opening junk mail (Adding to the amount of time I spend cleaning my desk and taking out the trash!)

One year looking for misplaced objects (for me, it's probably more like 2 or 3.)

Two years unsuccessfully returning phone calls (which is why I save myself the trouble and avoid the phone altogether. I'm the only person I know who doesn't own a cell phone.)

Seven years waiting in line (I wonder if the drive-up bank teller counts. 'Cause that's probably a whole extra year I've spent outside WAMU).

Six years eating (Time well spent, I think.)


Twenty-one years watching TV (Ouch!)


Twenty-three years sleeping (I bet for a mother of a large family this has to be cut in half at least.)

I'm thinking I should make better use of my time. Can't go wrong spending more time with the kids, reading more great books, sharing common meals with friends and strangers, worshipping and prayer, sharing the love of God.

Even if I ignore the morally reprehensible aspects of wasting time on say TV(!), the worst of it is that it robs time from nobler pursuits.

Yes, Lord, teach me to number my days that I might apply my heart to wisdom. And remind me to pick up some bigger chonies the next time I'm in town.

A little Sunday Sarcasm

Good Friday Meditation from Gana

The criminal hanging next to Jesus on the cross made a bold request that Jesus remember him when Jesus came into His Kingdom.

Jesus, in the middle of redeeming the whole world, sees the individual next to Him. And He answers his prayer specifically. “Today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

In His darkest hour Jesus was doing what He always did. He was seeing the needs of a man and meeting that need. He was saving. Jesus is the Savior of the world, but, we cannot forget that He saves us individually. He never overlooks the individual, even while saving the masses.

"Sticky Pedestal Behavior"

Phillip Lechuga

“My flesh and heart fail; but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.” Psalm 73:26

November 11, 2004 ~ January 6, 2007

The dearest little boy who touched all our lives in so many ways passed away on Saturday. It happened without any warning and has taken us all by surprise. When I heard the news I sat in my rocking chair and wept until Gana came into the room and held me.

I wish I had a script writer or had prepared something to say, because then we had to tell the children. Luc didn’t really understand. Israel did somewhat, but didn’t really get the full idea. Meg has taken it quite differently.

I took her with me to the grocery store later. She said, “Mom, I’m going to miss him Philip.” I said, “I know, honey. Me, too. He is with Jesus now. He is not hurting anymore. Someday we will see him again and be with him again.”

Meg said, “I know, Mom. But, I just want him the way he was.” How does she always manage to sum up exactly how I feel?

Little Phillip and me at his first costume birthday party.

Without an eternal perspective I do not know how anyone can move on from something like this. I long for the day when the last enemy, Death, is defeated. I long for the day when we see Death swallowed up in victory. “O death, where is your sting? O grave, where is your victory?” (I Corinthians 15:55)

Thankfully we do, and his parents do, have an eternal perspective. They know whom they have believed. They have known the Lord as their Savior, Healer, Friend, Brother. Now they have an opportunity to know Him by faith as the Resurrection and the Life. Jesus promises, “I am the Resurrection and the Life. He who believes on Me, though he were dead, yet shall He live.” (John 11:25)

In the meantime, I still wish I had a script writer, to convey to my dear friends all my love and support and my grieving with them without giving them any sage advice or little clichés. ‘Cause the truth is that none of us really understand this process of death and life and why someone lives to be a hundred and why someone is with us only two years. The greatest theologian can do no better explanation or give any more comfort to someone grieving than simply saying, “I’m so sorry.” And just being there. I just wish there was more I could do.

I will leave my little friend’s picture here and post no more this week. If you check my blog, please say a prayer for his family and all his friends who must now adjust to life without a bundle of sunshine, named Phillip.

Paul and Leona with their beautiful boys, Lil Paul and Phillip

Worshipping the Lord at the Revival Center

A Sunday morning nap at church

Revelation

Last night my husband was doing some woodworking projects outside. He had some Hillsong’s worship music blasting. I went outside to be with him. He expressed how much he loved worshipping in a big crowd! He said, “I can’t wait for heaven! Can you just imagine how it would sound?!” And truly it is going to be incredible!!


I also remembered and reminded him that after the seventh seal is opened there will be silence in heaven for about a half an hour! (Revelation 8:1) We talked for a little bit about what this or that meant in Revelation. And when it comes right down to it, I don’t understand a lot of it.

I don’t worry about it though. Revelation 1:3 says, “Blessed is he that readeth and they that hear the words of this prophecy.” I don’t see understanding all of it as a prerequisite to my blessing. Thank the Lord! So, I read it, even when I don’t grasp all the symbolism and meanings!

Also, I figure Revelation is one of 66 books of the Bible. There are 65 other books with things I do understand! Until I learn to love my enemies, to worship in spirit and in truth, to rejoice in suffering and all the basics, I won’t worry too much about the advanced stuff. Maybe when I’ve learned how to turn the other cheek I’ll be better equipped to tie the more complicated knot.

I could spent a lot of time and energy trying to “get it” or I could spend a lot of time and energy getting to know the Savior Himself. I think the latter is time very well spent.