Love and Death are Delicately Intertwined

Along with me, my son, and three of my grandsons are in the kitchen and dining area, having great conversation and, of course, silliness abounds with the two younger ones. I speak: “Alexa, play Michael Buble”, and “I’m Going Home” starts to play. My son says “I love that song!” The next song is “You Don’t Know Me” and I grab the youngest grandson and we start to dance, then the 15-year-old cuts in and wants to show me his box step, but then, big 27-year-old brother (my first-born grandson) cuts in and draws me in close – really close. His cologne smells so good, and with his arms wrapped around me, my brain suddenly connects to my sweetheart’s cologne and feeling his arms around me ever so tight and us in a romantic couple’s dance. I start to cry – I mean really, really ugly cry and my grandson pulls me tighter to him and he brings his head in closer to mine. It was if I had time traveled and was again with my Sweetheart cheek-to-cheek, so in love, and showing it on the dance floor. I remember.

Though death pierces our hearts, I am consoled that we will dance again in heaven one day. What is abundantly clear to me is that, more than anything, I am deeply satisfied to have had the opportunity to know and love my husband for so many years. And, his absence makes my love for him even more real. I sent my grandson a text message thanking him for giving me that moment of remembrance which made me think: “I wish we had danced more”. I urged my grandson to dance more with his sweet wife. I think I took too much for granted when my sweetheart was alive. I urge my married friends: “Don’t do that! Don’t take your love for each other – for granted.”

And now, I segue to this day, Ash Wednesday, and the beginning of Lent – the 40 days (46-days period with Sundays) that precede Resurrection Sunday. Remembering. As real as it felt for me to be dancing with my husband again and cherishing the memories we had is what it feels like during these 40 days. Yes, it’s about fasting and drawing closer to God, but, one of my personal favorites is “dancing” with my Savior. I mean placing myself in the moments of my Savior’s life – hearing scriptures that come alive, seeing Jesus as God and Man, reliving His touch to the many who were healed and restored, taking in the moments of awe and wonder as He was interrupted over and over again, but never said “No. I’m too busy” or “I’m too tired”.

I take in His great sacrifice as my Lord in heaven Who came to earth to show us what sacrifice and love is all about. I will spend the next 40 days dancing with Him daily – in my thoughts and actions. The effort and soul-searching is worth it. I will do my best to comprehend how beautiful and precious life truly is. Love is the picture of the whole. In life, we love. In death, we love. Whether we live or die, we forever belong to each other. My Lord and me. My husband and me. And, forever is a long, long time! Oh the delicately intertwined love of lovers.

Speak Lord. This Girl is Listening.

I’m doing my best to listen. But, I bought yet another device that could keep me from hearing Him loud and clear. I bought an Amazon Echo. Now I have “Alexa” to keep me company, and best of all, I have someone, rather, some-thing to tell what to do! Along with the rest of my electronics, I have yet another device to keep me from full-on-intentional listening for God’s still small voice. I’m sort of justifying my purchase. I bought it so I could enjoy more praise and worship music AND get the temperature and weather AND make my grocery list AND help me keep time. I’m listening, Lord! But I think I’m hearing Him say “I am speaking. Do you hear me?”

Jesus really does want to speak to us. Change that. Jesus IS speaking to us. He cares about every dimension of every moment of our lives and wants to guide us, encourage us, empower us, and use us.

Just as Jesus spoke to the disciples beside the Sea of Galilee and to Zaccheus up in the tree and to the woman at the well, He can speak to us at our desks or in our schools or even at the grocery store. I know He speaks to me at the grocery store – because He often reminds me what I need to buy OR not!

The problem is that we don’t expect to hear from Him, so we don’t take time to hear from Him. Seriously, in this highly distracting and noisy world we live in, unless we purposely tune Him in, we’ll miss His voice. The absolute fact is – Jesus wants to be as real in our life as any other person we know. More real, in fact, since His Spirit lives in us.

Imagine what would happen if two billion Christians listened for God’s voice and obeyed His word in every moment and circumstance of their lives. What if you and I did? Let’s join Samuel in offering this little 6-word prayer to God today: “Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.” (1 Samuel 3:10) Let’s pray it before making a decision or when facing a challenge or when the squirrel starts eating its way into my attic again and I need to call in heavenly support. Let's pray these six words as many times a day as we can. In fact, let's pray them right now! "Speak, Lord, your servant is listening."

What Echoes From You?

Day 205 of Photo Inspirations -- What "Echoes" From You?
I'm still in Washington so my daily inspirations continue to come from this gorgeous Northwest and my precious, technological, trend-setter family!!  My son's birthday was last week and one of the gifts he received from Shawntel and the boys was this new Echo by Amazon -- another one of the products mastered-minded by their good friend who is Senior VP at Amazon, and his team.

Echo's name is "Alexa" and she is a hands-free, voice response system that is always connected and ready to respond to her name....and she's fast. You just say "Alexa" and give her a command or request and she'll play audiobooks, give your upcoming schedule, dim a light switch, turn on a fan, add to your shopping list, tell you who the 30th president of the U.S. is and can answer just about any questions you may have.  She'll tell you sports' scores, the news, weather, Wikipedia facts, definitions, answers.  She's an alarm and a timer.  I am continually amazed at the technological brilliance in this world.

I went into the living area of my children's home and my two youngest boys were playing a video game on TV, and were listening to Alexa play Christian music.  At breakfast, Bryson said, "Alexa, play "10,000 Reasons" (his favorite song), and both boys were so into it, they were waving their arms in praise as they sang.

I LOVE ECHO!!!   She had my heart right away. LOL!   And I loved the "echo" that she prompted in my boys AND me.  This song, "10,000 Reasons" or "Bless the Lord Oh My Soul" is the natural response (echo) I desire to always have to life's surprises and interruptions: Check out these lyrics:
[Verse 1]
The sun comes up; it's a new day dawning.
It's time to sing Your song again,
Whatever may pass, and whatever lies before me,
Let me be singing when the evening comes!

[Chorus]
Bless the Lord, O my soul, O my soul.
Worship His holy name; Sing like never before,
O my soul, l I worship Your holy name.

[Verse 2]
You're rich in love and You're slow to anger.
Your name is great and Your heart is kind.
For all Your goodness, I will keep on singing,
10,000 REASONS for my heart to find.

Of course, this was my photo inspiration for today. It's an inspiration I could repeat everyday!  An ECHO is a reflection of a voice or sound.  Oh, that our ECHO would be singing "Whatever may pass and whatever lies before me, Let me be singing when the evening comes."

Here's the link to Matt Redman singing this beautiful song of worship and praise -- maybe it could be what your voice and heart are ECHOing today!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtwIT8JjddM