WATCHING THE BIRDS AND LILIES

Wednesdays are study and prayer days for me, and I do great deal of it sitting on my back porch. Looking out through the screened porch into the back yard is glorious.

Wanda and I also like to eat our breakfast on the porch and read the Bible together. As we shared Wednesday morning in our early devotions, my eyes fell on Luke's recording of Christ's teaching on the Kingdom, worry, and the lessons of the birds and lilies. Christ taught us to trust Him, put the Kingdom first, and not too worry about the daily needs. He will take care of us even more than He does the birds and lilies.

I looked out beyond our deck to the bird feeder 

and watched all the birds coming and going for their breakfast. There were a couple of red birds, a male and female, and woodpecker, and wrens, and other unidentified birds. They chirped and sang with a joy of life that stirred new refreshings in me. They weren't worried about tomorrow and all its issues and needs. They were happy today.

Right in front of me was a little male wren taking food to his female partner who is nesting in a geranium plant now blooming in all its glory.

I looked further into the back yard to day lilies blooming and again saw the wonder and beauty of God.

Squirrels were racing back and forth over our fence and through the woods sending mating calls to each other. 

All of the flowers of the back yard we have recently planted were glowing the goodness of God. 

I too will trust in Him. He will take care of tomorrow.

FREE IS BETTER THAN CHEAP

Mother's Day in Jacksonville offers a wonderful concert at the Jacksonville Beach Pavilion presented by the Jacksonville Symphonic Orchestra. I have gone every year except last year since moving to Jacksonville.

It is a leisurely evening of sitting in the open in lawn chairs, snacking, and soaking in the soothing, soft music. 

When I was a teenager in high school I played trumpet in the marching band and symphonic band and really love all forms of music. I like music from the Gaither's and Southern Gospel to classical and then to blue grass, and even some other forms. 

God gave us music which blesses the soul and encourages the heart. Music in heaven will be loud so you better pack ear plugs if you get nervous with today's music. Of course, music loud enough to do damage to one's ear drums isn't very helpful or soothing.

I read the instructions for the Iphone I bought a few months back and was intrigued by the liability disclaimer that filled several pages of the user guide that warned of hearing loss due to listening to sounds too loud. They were covering their liability responsibilities from people who would listen to music so loud that they would experience hearing loss. 

Well, anyhow the concert was good, not too loud, and comforting to the soul. Wanda and I made sandwiches, took chips and cheese, and some cookies and had a wonderful evening.

The best part was that the concert was free. 

Did you know that free is better than cheap? 

Enjoy the short concert video clip below.

SPEECHLESS AND CLOSER TO GOD

Jennifer wrote the following on her blog. It was too beautiful and touching not to share. She has an amazing gift of heartfelt communication. It leaves you speechless and closer to God. 

You can read more of her writings at her blog. 

SATURDAY, MAY 09, 2009

Dance with Jesus

Tuesday I attended a memorial service in honor of my mother, Kristy Dykes who died last July from a glioblastoma brain tumor. My mother was a pastor's wife serving 37 years in church ministry along side my dad. She was a published award winning author, speaker, writer, painter, pianist and so much more. A talented woman. Her grave marker reads Pizazz! Enthusiasm! High Energy! This describes her perfect.

I flew into Orlando without the kids on Monday for the short two day trip and my dad and Wanda picked me up. Julie joined us and we had a wonderful time together.

What is it like having a stepmother after the death of my own sweet and wonderful mother? Wanda is a comfort, a soothing balm to a wounded and worn soul. There is a spoken and even unspoken understanding and love that flows from her heart. She is a rare gift of hope and promise from God Himself.

Tuesday was the memorial service given by the Assemblies of God at their annual district council. It was in honor of all the ministers and spouses of ministers who have passed away in the past year. We sat in the front of a church that seats 6,000 and waited for my mother's name to be called and her picture displayed in a brief moment of honor.

Sitting there grief and disbelief grabbed hold of my heart. Waves of tears threatened to shake me to the core. Suppressed sobs and screams demanded to ring out of my heart and spill through tightly drawn lips.

"How oh how, will I ever be able to grab a hold of myself?" I wondered desperately. My eyes stealing fleeting glances at the many others who dabbed at tears with tightly wadded tissues. Their eyes rimmed red with tears that spilled in grief for their loved one. "Get control of your emotions, Jennifer." I shouted quietly to myself.

But oh how my heart bucked against reason and longed for once to be let loose in loud, long wails of grief and pain...

"Your beloved sweet mother is dead and you are all alone. You sit on a bench with only a rose to hold, instead of her sweet hand. She is gone...gone...gone...!"

Suddenly her name was announced, we stood in shock looking up at the picture of her beautiful smiling face. So full of love for life, passion and energy. And then it was gone. Blinked out and another face flashed on the screen. We sat down almost unwillingly as our hearts sighed for her to come back... "just one more minute...don't take her picture down..."

Crushed I felt. Defeated. Left feeling robbed, I sat with my shoulders slumped, head bowed and hid behind a curtain of my long brown hair. And then someone started singing. Something about Jesus the Savior. 

I closed my eyes and listened to the music with my heart. Sweet images of my precious Savior Jesus started washing over my weary mind. My soul became silent and still with the knowledge that He is God.

I felt a gentle whisper into my heart calling me. Ever so quietly. Ever so sweetly. Ever so softly like a gentle flutter of a butterfly wing against my soul. A voice called... "Look Jennifer! Can you see? Can you see her, Jennifer? Can you see us? Look with your heart, not your eyes Jennifer! Look! See!" 

Looking with the eyes of my heart, I strained against a cloudy and unclear vision. But I saw! A sigh of instant peace and joy washed over my soul. 

For there in my minds eye was placed the beautiful and perfect image of my mother held tenderly in the arms of Jesus. And they were dancing! Dancing slowly to the same sweet worship music I was hearing! My heart sang: "Jesus, I see! I see her! She is perfect and made whole and smiling! She isn't gone! She's right there in your embrace, dancing with You!

Real or imagined, that image remains forever burned in my mind. Hope replaces broken despair! Peace replaces raging, unchecked grief! Joy replaces despondent sorrow! 

Oh to have such eternal hope! Won't you too trust Him? Don't you too hear Him calling you? Whispering tenderly to you,"Look! See! Oh how I love and care for you!" 

My heartfelt prayer: Dear Jesus, How sweet and beautiful You are! At times You take my breath away. I am speechless in front of Your stunning beauty. Just what is so beautiful about You, some may ask? Why, it is Your amazing selfless love! It is Your perfect love that is so stunning!

A NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER

The first Thursday of May is always our National Day of Prayer across America. Yesterday, I gathered with a number of pastors and city leaders at the Jacksonville City Council Chambers to call on the God of heaven for our City, State, and Nation. America so desperately needs 

return to the precepts of God. 

Mike and Dana Hammontree, our church worship leaders, and Chad, their oldest son, led in singing and did a fabulous job. They are gifted singers with hearts of worship that glorify God. 

As part of my prayer, I included the words of David in Psalm 19. It reads:

⁷ The law of the LORD is perfect, 
       reviving the soul. 
       The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, 
       making wise the simple.

 ⁸ The precepts of the LORD are right, 
       giving joy to the heart. 
       The commands of the LORD are radiant, 
       giving light to the eyes.

 ⁹ The fear of the LORD is pure, 
       enduring forever. 
       The ordinances of the LORD are sure 
       and altogether righteous.

 ¹⁰ They are more precious than gold, 
       than much pure gold; 
       they are sweeter than honey, 
       than honey from the comb.

The words perfect, trustworthy, right, radiant, pure, enduring, sure, and precious as gold are used to describe the laws and precepts of God. You can get any better than perfect, right, radiant, pure, and gold. 

Who wants to drink impure water? Who wants to eat food that is not right? Who would chose sand, or cheap minerals over gold? Chosing anything less than the laws of the Lord is even worse than impure water or food.

That is why I choose God and His laws. The Judeo Christian ethic is the proven best way to govern, live, and thrive over all other world systems. You just can't improve on living God's way. Anyone ready to move to Cuba, Russia, Africa, Mexico, or even Europe? I don't think so.

I have visited Cuba twice as well as other countries that do not honor God. I couldn't wait to get back to America. I wanted to kiss the ground as I got off the airplane.

I also was involved in a united prayer time at the Fair Grounds in the evening. I led in prayer for America. Most of all, we need to pray daily for God to heal our land, for righteousness to prevail, and for a return to the laws of God. 

You can't improve on God's laws. They are perfect, trustworthy, right, sure, radiant, pure, and precious. 

May God bless America again.

Below, is a video of a small part of my prayer Thursday evening.

KRISTY REMEMBERED

Tuesday morning Wanda and I attended the Memorial Service at our State Denominational Meeting at Calvary Assembly in Winter Park, FL. Julie and Jennifer were there with us along with several other family members. The denomination honors ministers and spouses who have died during the past year.

It was a touching service where a number of ministers and spouses were honored including Kristy. Kristy served for 27 years in this state and another 10 years in Alabama and across the South and Nation mentoring pastor's wives and touching untold lives through her teaching, writing, and faithful service. 

I stood along with Wanda, my daughters, and other family members present as they showed her picture in a the large video screen in this church seating 6,000 or so. We had preached there several times in the past which brought up 

 memories.

I took a picture of the girls during the service of the holding Kristy's rose they gave me in her honor. As the service progressed Jennifer gave me a note that said, "She is dancing with Jesus." We chose to celebrate Kristy's life and the wonderful work she did all those years for Christ. She is dancing with Jesus and has obtained her reward.

 

Rev. Malcolm Burliegh a close minister friend and pastor brought the memorial message and referred to Kristy along with several of the others who were honored. His words spoke to all of us but I felt really made a point of impact on Julie and Jennifer to take their Mom's torch and go forward with purpose to honor Christ.

Many of our dear friends offered love and comfort to me and my daughters. A rose was given to each family in their love ones honor and Wanda got an extra one after the service so each of my daughters could have a rose. 

I was blessed to have Wanda there to comfort my daughters and me. God told Kristy who we needed in our lives. We need Wanda. That was Kristy's way. She lived to bless others. 

Wanda sat in this same church five years ago as her first husband, Jim, was honored in a similar memorial service. Wanda uniquely understood what we were feeling and how to go forward. Through it all, God is our comfort and strength.

God is good.

Look closely at the picture below. They put a random shot of Julie up on the screen just as I took this picture. 

Amazing!

A CHAPEL FIT FOR BIRDS

I continue to work in the yards. Months of lack of attention has left areas over-grown and lacking the beauty that the back yard has offered in the past. But, with Wanda's 

 help, the back yard is blooming again. All it takes is some will power, elbow grease, green thumb,  money for plants, and water and then the colors begin to glow.

We were blessed by the kindest, thoughtful family and friends with many lovely wedding gifts. Wanda and I are overwhelmed by the gracious warmth we have felt by our dear loved ones and friends. Day by day, Wanda is putting her touches on our home, and the aroma of home cooked meals is filling the house again. God is good!

One gift that I finally got put up is a chapel bird house for the back yard. Saturday I had to cut down a dead tree that was right up against the fence in the very back, center of our yard. It had been struck by lightning and had brown leaves but had a sturdy trunk. One of my good deacons, Gary, cut it down but left the trunk to place the chapel bird house. It looks great.

Now the birds can sit in their own place of worship and give glory to God. The back yard is filled with chirping, happy birds and they are busy nesting and preparing for the future little "birdies." 

In fact, one little couple is building a nest in one of the large flower pots Wanda placed on the back deck. Maybe they will see the nice, new bird chapel and check into one of the condo suites there. 

Spring is in full bloom, and the glory of God is revealed.

***

Monday we will be going to our annual state denominational meeting and there will be a special memorial service on Tuesday for ministers and spouses who passed during this last year. They will show a picture, call their names, offer prayers, and give roses to family members to honor those who served faithfully.

My daughters, Julie and Jennifer, will be present along with Wanda and me to honor Kristy. It would take a year of blogs and more to tell all that Kristy did to bless others and glorify her Savior. She truly deserves this honor. Jim, Wanda's first husband, was honored in a similar service five years ago. 

Pray for the girls and our family. This will be a moment of celebration of Kristy's life as well as the others who will be remembered. It will be touching and hurtful too. 

Kristy is smiling down on us from heaven. I am quite sure she is pleased and thankful for God's blessings on our lives. She labored for our good and wanted us to go forward to complete our journeys here on earth. 

One day will we see our precious loved ones again. 

God is good.

HOSPITALITY: A SPIRITUAL REQUIREMENT

Hospitality is almost a lost art in today's society and also in the church. People are busy, too busy and fail to realize that connecting relationally best occurs around a table. Follow Christ's example in the Gospels and you will see Him eating and cooking and sharing around a table or open fire. Paul, also spoke to the value of entertaining and caring for the physical needs of people around the table.

Families eat with the TV blaring and too often don't get to share "family time" around the dinner table. That is a shame. Families and friends saints and sinners bond around the table of bread. Yes, I wrote sinners. Jesus ate with sinners too.

This week we have entertained a couple of times in our home as Wanda and I have invited friends over for a meal. Wanda is a calming and comforting person who just has a sweet special knack for making people feel at home.

We sat on the back deck eating and enjoying good fellowship, delicious meals, cool days, beautiful flowers, and birds singing, and very soft music in the background. Our talk was uplifting, encouraging, prayerful, and filled with fun and laughter. It had both physical and spiritual value to all present. That is pleasing to the Lord, glorifies Him, and helps promote His Kingdom. 

I actually entertained a number of guests in my home as a single guy, but it is more fun and enjoyable to share the experience with a beautiful partner who is a "great" cook.

God is good.

Part of the requirement for being a pastor is the gift of hospitality. Read what Paul wrote to Timothy. Wanda has that gift as a pastor's wife and helps me qualify in the hospitality category. Food is expensive, finding time is a challenge, and preparing for guests is demanding, but it is a good and spiritual thing to do. It is also a blessing to get to bless others.