Give Me an A

~ Barbara ~ 1 Comment

The best solution to plugging up the holes in our buckets, mentioned in last week’s post, is by focusing on what is true. When we contemplate God’s character, our insecurities, fears, and anger dissipate. To shift our focus from what causes leaks in our faith, we’ll spend three weeks looking at God’s attributes. Today, “Give me an A!”

  • Alpha. God is the Beginning. He was present before there was a world or a single life. He is not only before all things, but He holds all things together and all things exist for Him. He holds us together and He gives us purpose. Our life, physically and spiritually, begins with Him. We refer to Alpha people as top dogs, leaders—Jesus is the only true Alpha.
  • All. God is All—all we need because He is all-sufficient, all-knowing, all-mighty. There is no need He cannot meet, no problem He cannot solve, no situation He cannot unscramble. He knows the end from the beginning and understands times and seasons.  He is strong enough, wise enough, and caring enough. He is All.
  • Able. He has the strength, the authority, the power. He created the world with a word and has legions of angels at His call. His wisdom guides His ability and His love curtails His actions. There is nothing beyond His reach. He is Able.

When we keep these truths foremost, our lives remain whole and strong. No leaks!

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.

To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life.”

Jesus, Revelation 1:6

*You may want to think about these words as well: Adonai (Lord, Ruler), Advocate, Almighty, Anointed One.

There’s a Hole in My Bucket*

~ Barbara ~ 1 Comment

I didn’t expect my original “Bucket” post to multiply, but it has! I do believe this is the last of four and I don’t think you’ll be thanking me for embedding this song in your head, but here goes. My husband actually suggested this to me and, after quickly dismissing it, I found I couldn’t let the thought (or the melody) go.

Poor Henry faces a problem of inordinate proportions when he discovers a hole in his bucket. Stymied, he turns to Liza for advice. It seems pretty obvious to her, but each step she offers leads to a new complication. Henry exasperates Liza and never does fix his bucket—you certainly couldn’t call Henry a go-getter.

I began to think about the holes in my bucket and wondered if, like Henry, I lack the determination to plug them up and content myself with living a leaky existence. You may identify with some of these holes.

  1. My heart is bursting with grateful wonder—and then I hear about a friend’s family event or trip or blessing. Envy pokes a hole in my bucket and my gratitude seeps out.
  2. I am filled with a sense of purpose—and then I become aware of a criticism. Insecurity pierces my bucket and, drip by drip, my zeal puddles at my feet.
  3. I am praising God for my life, for His goodness and blessings—and then I (or someone I love) notice an ache, pain, or lump. Tests are called for and fear stabs a hole in my bucket, allowing my praise to trickle away.
  4. I am happy and content, trusting God in matters of the world and of my personal world—and then I hear assessments of society, leaders, governments. Anger punctures my bucket and my confidence dribbles away.

Friends, this is a brief look at the peril of having a hole in our bucket. To myself, and all the other Henrys out there, I quote Liza, “Well, fix it dear Henry, dear Henry fix it!”

Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise. Ephesians 5:15

*This song was first published in Germany around 1700.

Photo by Lucas van Oort on Unsplash

Bucket of Apples

~ Barbara ~ 2 Comments

Bucket 3/4

Autumn officially arrives this Saturday—my favorite season! In our family, fall meant making applesauce, which did not necessarily include apple picking—I usually bought a bushel of “drops” from a local farm. While they simmered in my Dutch oven on the stove, I set out my grandmother’s old apple mill, and lined up our plastic containers.

When grandchildren came along I soon learned I didn’t need as many containers for the freezer—their taste testing of the warm sweetness greatly diminished our production volume. Nothing says fall to me as much as apples. But this favorite season includes many more delights.

  • I love the colors of fall. Who is not drawn to gas-guzzling rides through the country to ooh and aah at changing leaves that glamorize the landscape?
  • I thrill to see orange pumpkins sitting on porches, some with grinning faces and a flickering candle within. Then there are roasted pumpkin seeds, pumpkin pies, pumpkin muffins, pumpkin anything (except coffee).
  • I think God had fun creating gourds with their varied colors, odd shapes, stripes and bumps.
  • I love the need for a sweater or hoodie, an added blanket on the bed, and the return of cozy slippers.
  • I love apple cider, apple pie, and caramel apples on a stick.
  • I love to watch the leaves fall and twirl, dancing around me, and to hear them swish when I shuffle through their carpet.
  • I love yellow and rust-colored mums and curly leafed purple cabbages.
  • I love the memory of raking leaves to the edge of our property and burning them in the road. My nostalgia can still evoke the wonderful woodsy fragrance and savor the quiet absence of leaf blowers.

What do you love about fall?

Bucket of Bolts

~ Barbara ~ 2 Comments

My husband sketched this picture in high school. Lately, I wonder if it was a prophetic portrait of his wife-to-be because I’m feeling like a bucket of bolts—rustier, slower, and dented. I have an appointment this week for what may be a frozen shoulder, one next week for eye surgery, and last night I bit an almond and broke my tooth!

I thought of Rich’s high school art project and recalled the many challenges we had to keep our cars on the road. In a few days, we’ll have a recent dent repaired—cosmetic, easy. But we have a history of failed batteries, faulty wiring, flat tires, and the worst—dead transmissions. My aging body relates.

What if we brought our car back to the manufacturer and was told it was worn out, but we can have a new model with all the bells and whistles—solar powered, heated seats and steering wheel, state-of-the-art GPS system, back up warnings, 12-way power seats, tinted sunroof, stereophonic music, luxury leather interior, a scratch resistant exterior, and the smoothest ride you can imagine, all with an unlimited, lifetime warranty. Oh, and it’s free.

That’s the very offer the Holy Spirit dropped into my heart. I’ve seen a lot of miles and my body is reflecting its years. Of course it is—it has a built in expiration date known only to its Maker. But I know what’s ahead! A brand-new model “with all the bells and whistles.” Strength that doesn’t lag, agility that scales mountains, eyes that see clear and far, ears that overhear angels whisper without needing to ask, “What did they say?” Insights that are clear and don’t fade, understanding that grasps marvels, the ability to perceive intricate details, intellect that amazes, and reasoning that comprehends thoughts that are currently too wonderful for me.

A life freely given, an eternal existence, forever strong, productively fruitful, awed by new wonders every day—this is my full expectation. In the meantime, I’ll care for my bucket of bolts with an eye to the future as I “Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits” Psalm 103:2 (NKJ).