Saturday, October 6, 2007

Thoughts on Simplicity

I have been thinking of the simplicity of the gospel message. In conjunction with that thought, I have been thinking about the commandments that came down the mountain with Moses back in the book of Exodus. What if the Lord gave us daily punch lists? You know, the kind that come with a work order to a contractor?

Daily Punch List for Lynne
1. Please remember that I am God. Don't try to re-create a source of inspiration or comfort out of man-made contraptions. The computer is a tool that can be over-used. Get up and walk outside once in a while. Rake the leaves. Clean the floor. Practicality can be an exercise in worship.
2. Don't blame me when you get in trouble for doing something stupid. I am here for you, but don't get torqued at me for something you did. It wont get you anywhere you want to go.
3. Yearning for things over relationship and connection with people and their needs will draw you magnetically to trouble with a capital "T". Be aware of thinking the grass is always greener over the other side of the septic tank.
4. Don't harbor murder in your heart. This applies to your temper. There is a reason I included the account of Cain and Abel in the owner's manual. Remember the level of grace extended to you before you write someone off as not having value.

Alright, folks! I think I have enough of a punch list for now. This should keep me busy until Jesus comes back. If I get brave enough, perhaps I should finish the post. Until then, may you enjoy a cup o'joy and a fresh taste of the bread of heaven...

Love,
Lynne

Looking Up

I was noticing the colors in the trees yesterday afternoon. It was late afternoon, in fact, and the sun was casting a late afternoon light just behind the multi-colored leaves. The burst of red leaves among their green counterparts caught my eye and filtered down into my soul with alacrity and ease. If I had a camera with me, I would have taken a picture of it. I am writing now because the beauty just has to be shared.

A dash of color among the mundane; the ordinary being accented with contrast. It propels me to think about how life has those splashes of color thrown in to the ordinary days that we tend to look on with a vague discontent. This is the day that the Lord has made, and the scriptures do tell us to number our days. They are finite. Some days flow by with an efficient ease, and other days seem to trudge by us with weighted down shoes that are stuck on shuffling feet. Perception and accumulated stressors seem to conspire against our joy on a regular basis. We tend to look for something to show us an escape hatch of sorts.

I looked up again at the tree. The red reminded me of the cross. The blood freed us to see the abundant life that Jesus offered to us through His sacrifice. A dash of color in an autumn tree had been used by the hand of the Father to speak to my heart of His grace. I had to look up again to say "I love you" to Jesus for the natural greeting card.

Have a cup o'joy,
and a fresh taste of the bread of heaven...

Lynne